As captured January 25, 2025

9 files changed, 29231 insertions, 15032 deletions

diff --git a/69509-0.txt b/69509-0.txt
index a294536..ee6322a 100644
--- a/69509-0.txt
+++ b/69509-0.txt
@@ -1,6637 +1,6261 @@
-The Project Gutenberg eBook of Frank Allen and his motor boat, by

-Graham B. Forbes

-

-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and

-most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions

-whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms

-of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at

-www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you

-will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before

-using this eBook.

-

-Title: Frank Allen and his motor boat

-       or, Racing to save a life

-

-Author: Graham B. Forbes

-

-Release Date: December 9, 2022 [eBook #69509]

-

-Language: English

-

-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.)

-

-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR

-BOAT ***

-

-

-

-

-

-  Transcriber’s Note

-

-  Italic text is displayed as: _italic_

-

-

-

-

-[Illustration: “THERE HE IS!” CRIED LANKY EXCITEDLY, POINTING TO THE

-MOTOR BOAT THAT LOOMED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM

-

-  _Frank Allen and His Motor Boat_      _Frontispiece_ (Page 203)

-]

-

-

-

-

-  FRANK ALLEN AND

-  HIS MOTOR BOAT

-

-  OR

-

-  Racing to Save a Life

-

-  BY

-

-  GRAHAM B. FORBES

-

-  _Author of “Frank Allen’s Schooldays,” “Frank

-  Allen—Pitcher,” “Frank Allen at

-  Rockspur Ranch,” etc._

-

-  [Illustration: Bookmaker’s symbol]

-

-  GARDEN CITY      NEW YORK

-  GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING CO., INC.

-  1926

-

-

-

-

-  FRANK ALLEN SERIES

-

-  BY

-

-  GRAHAM B. FORBES

-

-  _See back of book for list of titles_

-

-

-  COPYRIGHT, 1926, BY

-  GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.

-  MADE IN U. S. A.

-

-

-

-

-FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR BOAT

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER I

-

-TUNING THE ROCKET

-

-

-“Cunningham really wants a race, does he? Well, I’m ready after

-to-day to give him a chance to beat the _Rocket_; but, Lanky, he’ll

-have to handle the _Speedaway_ better than he handles himself or he

-will find himself taking the rough water of this little boat mighty

-quickly.”

-

-Frank Allen and Lanky Wallace were out on the Harrapin river giving

-the regular daily try-out to the _Rocket_. 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) 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.

-

-“You know, sweet little Clarinda—” and Frank started “kidding” his

-pal.

-

-“Listen, boy,” Lanky spoke up quickly, “the Harrapin’s wetter than

-usual to-day. One of us might get damp.”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“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 you think things are the smoothest is when they are getting

-ready to be the worst.”

-

-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.

-

-“Oh, ye prophet!” and Lanky started laughing.

-

-“Here! Grab the wheel, hold her straight ahead, and let me tickle

-this thing into action,” and Frank let Wallace have his place.

-

-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.

-

-“I wonder who Cunningham is, really,” he said as he wiped his hands

-on some waste and stood again alongside Lanky Wallace.

-

-“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——”

-

-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 _Rocket_

-continued up the river at a medium pace, taking them on an errand for

-Frank’s father.

-

-“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.”

-

-Silence fell again between the two boys while the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“What a summer!” suddenly exclaimed Lanky.

-

-“How?”

-

-“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 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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“You’re sure right,” agreed Lanky.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-With this Frank increased the speed of the boat, and in perhaps sixty

-seconds the _Rocket_ was heading up the Harrapin at a pace which

-Frank had not previously held it to.

-

-“Gee, Frank,” cried Lanky enthusiastically, “what chance has Fred

-Cunningham with this? This is speed, I’ll say!”

-

-“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.

-

-“What’s the use of worrying? I don’t hear anything half as much as I

-see some speed. This is great!”

-

-Gradually the speed of the _Rocket_ was lessened, for Frank was not

-inclined to take chances on something which he did not understand.

-

-“How far do we go?” asked Lanky.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“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 view of the

-river boats by great trees and row upon row of shrubs.

-

-“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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“I wonder if she’s afraid to stay there unguarded.”

-

-“Then why doesn’t she move into town, where she would be close to

-neighbors and friends?”

-

-“On advice of counsel, I must refuse to answer,” said Lanky

-banteringly, striking a mock heroic attitude.

-

-Just at this juncture the expected happened. Frank’s exclamation of

-“Now! what’s the matter?” showed that his fears were being realized.

-The engine stopped dead, and the _Rocket_ was going upstream merely

-because of its own headway.

-

-Lanky Wallace took the wheel at the suggestion of Frank, so that he

-himself could get down to tinker with the engine.

-

-Once, twice, three times he tried to get it started, but there was no

-success.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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

-_Rocket’s_ 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.

-

-They had drifted back to a point just upstream from the Parsons house.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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!

-

-“Now, which of three things was wrong?” laughed Frank, as the motor

-spit and sputtered and then went to running evenly.

-

-“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.”

-

-The two boys washed their hands, Lanky loosened the fastening to the

-tree, gave a huge shove 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.

-

-Then, its nose slowly turned upstream, the engine running smoothly,

-the _Rocket_ picked up speed under the hand of Frank, and out to

-midstream they went, toward the Parsons Island.

-

-“There’s Cunningham right now!” exclaimed Wallace, pointing to a

-rapidly moving boat which was rounding the upper side of the narrow

-island.

-

-It was a trim craft, the _Speedaway_, and worth watching as it

-skimmed around the island and made its way toward the same side of

-the river as was the _Rocket_.

-

-“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.

-

-“Drat his hide!” muttered the other. “Turning directly at us and not

-slowing down.”

-

-Once again Frank eased the _Rocket_ to the port. At once the

-_Speedaway’s_ direction was changed, the boat answering quickly to

-the wheel, as its speed was kept.

-

-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

-_Rocket_, a deliberate attempt to run it down!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER II

-

-THE SCREAM IN THE DARK

-

-

-Lanky Wallace looked aghast as the _Speedaway_ bore squarely at them,

-aimed at tearing the _Rocket_ in two.

-

-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.

-

-With one swing of his arm to the motor he increased speed and with

-the coolest deliberation turned the nose of the _Rocket_ squarely for

-the _Speedaway_. 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.

-

-His movement was entirely successful in at least one respect—that he

-got into position quickly for his own next move.

-

-In a flash of time the two boats were almost touching noses. Then

-came the necessary alertness and deftness of movement. With a hard

-tug at his wheel Frank threw the _Rocket_ to one side.

-

-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

-_Speedaway_ around, and did so with such a jerk that a large box fell

-overboard on the other side.

-

-“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.

-

-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

-_Speedaway_.

-

-Her nose now downstream, Frank and Lanky saw that the _Speedaway_

-had also made a wide turn and was coming back toward a box which

-was floating in the river. The speed of the _Rocket_ lessened as it

-neared the other motor boat.

-

-The two men in the _Speedaway_ 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.

-

-“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.

-

-“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.

-

-By this time the two other men had rescued the box and had placed it

-on the deck forward.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.

-

-“What’s that?” called Cunningham threateningly, getting out from the

-cockpit as the two boats lay alongside each other.

-

-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

-_Rocket_ and started toward the side.

-

-“I said this boat was ready for a race any time, and I said it was

-not in the nasty habit of trying to run into other people. Did you

-get me plainly?”

-

-“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 _Speedaway_.

-

-With that he threw the motor into gear and moved away from the

-_Rocket_, which now slowly turned its nose upstream.

-

-Frank and Lanky were both quiet. Wallace wanted to talk, but he knew

-Frank well enough to know that the young captain of the _Rocket_

-did not wish to say anything. Under such conditions Frank Allen was

-always most quiet.

-

-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.

-

-It was just at dusk that the boys came to Northeast Bend in the

-Harrapin and saw the island for which they were headed.

-

-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.

-

-“Well, we’re going to have a moonlight ride on the Harrapin

-to-night—provided there’s a moon,” laughed Frank, as he came hurrying

-back to the _Rocket_ and found Lanky stretched out astern, viewing

-the sky.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said since we started—so far

-as I can recall.”

-

-In the meanwhile Lanky pulled his frame up from the stern seat,

-stretched, jumped to the landing, cast off, and the _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket_ started on its homeward journey.

-

-“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.”

-

-Lanky took up his task, whistling the while, but suddenly ceased the

-music and cried:

-

-“Say, Frank, there’s not a bit of juice. What’s the big idea? Can’t

-light one of them.”

-

-“Throw the main switch on.”

-

-“I have, but not a bit comes through. The line’s dead.”

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-Fifteen minutes passed without any degree of success, and actual

-darkness was on them.

-

-“Put her nose over to shore, Lanky. No use taking any chances. We’ve

-got to find the trouble.”

-

-Whereupon Lanky did his duty, and the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Doing the work carefully, not dodging about after 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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.

-

-“Yes, like I’m a good jeweler!”

-

-“Now, little playmate, wilt thee kindly cast off the vessel from

-yonder coral reef?” Frank continued his attitude.

-

-Lanky went shoreward, loosed the rope, and threw it on board at the

-bow, gave the _Rocket_ a push and leaped aboard himself, hastily

-grabbing the oar once again to push the stern away from the shallow

-water.

-

-“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.

-

-Silence now held the boys for a while as Frank picked his way easily

-to midstream and headed for Columbia.

-

-“You know,” Lanky suddenly broke the stillness, 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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-Lanky was silent again. Frank joined him.

-

-The _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-“Some one tied there for a while, I guess,” and Frank turned the

-searchlight again toward the middle of the stream.

-

-“Look! A signal!” Lanky had seen a flare of light in the direction of

-the boat.

-

-“Rats, Lanky, you’re letting this darkness get on your nerves.”

-

-“Well—maybe. Anyhow, if it wasn’t a signal of anything else it was a

-signal or sign that he was lighting his pipe.”

-

-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.

-

-“Guess I’m the one that let the light and the sound get on my nerves.

-What time is it, Lanky?”

-

-“Half-past nine o’clock.”

-

-“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,” and Frank stepped over to grasp the flywheel and start the

-engine.

-

-“Help!” It came across the water from the shore of the Parsons estate.

-

-Frank straightened and listened. Lanky was sitting bolt upright. Once

-again there came the shrill scream of a woman. No other sound.

-

-“Wonder what it is, Lanky!”

-

-“Some one in trouble over at the Parsons place.”

-

-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.

-

-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 _Rocket_ expertly.

-

-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!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER III

-

-THE PARSONS JEWELS

-

-

-Up the inclined bank went the two boys, determined now to get to the

-Parsons house, whence the cries came.

-

-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.

-

-Once more came that cry of a frightened woman!

-

-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!

-

-“Around to the rear!” cried Frank, as Lanky and he turned back from

-the resisting front door.

-

-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.

-

-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!

-

-“There they go!” both boys cried in the same breath, just as a loud

-cry came from within:

-

-“Help! Let me out!”

-

-It was just over their heads. Frank looked up, but could see nothing.

-The night was as black as ink.

-

-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.

-

-Again Mrs. Parsons, for in all probability it was she, screamed, and

-Frank dived through the dark for the direction indicated by her voice.

-

-“Find a light, Lanky, quick!” he cried, feeling about for the door.

-

-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.

-

-In another moment Frank was smashing against the door behind

-and beyond which the woman was screaming even more lustily, more

-excitedly, than before.

-

-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.

-

-Loosening her arms quickly and lifting her bodily to her feet, Frank

-and Lanky both supported her to a chair.

-

-It was Mrs. Parsons, the wealthy recluse of the county. She was

-thoroughly hysterical.

-

-“My jewels! My silver! They’ve stolen it all and got away! What shall

-I do? What shall I do?”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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 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.

-

-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.

-

-“How long were you engaged at this?” asked Frank.

-

-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.

-

-“Oh, I suppose it was fully an hour that I sat here checking and

-thinking idly about different things, then——”

-

-She proceeded with her story, about as follows:

-

-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 enjoyed herself on many occasions

-concentrating on some of them and guessing what they were.

-

-“Suddenly I felt as if some one were behind me,” and she turned

-quickly, apprehensively, around, expecting to see some one.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Then they placed you in the pantry?” asked Frank.

-

-“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.”

-

-“How did you get the gag off so that you could scream so loudly—for

-we were attracted by your screams?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“But why scream, when you knew you were so far from neighbors?”

-

-“You heard me, didn’t you? You heard me from the road and came.

-That’s why I screamed.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“Yes, yes, call the police!” she cried, gaining strength and with it

-her composure. “Let’s look around and see what is gone, too.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“All my silverware—gone!” she moaned, her hands to her face.

-“Thousands of dollars’ worth 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!”

-

-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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-She stood quietly and looked at the disturbed condition of things for

-a while. Then she said:

-

-“I wonder if they could have gotten my jewels upstairs. Let’s see!”

-

-She started off with the sudden recollection that these same men

-could have gotten more than the silverware.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“The safe! My jewelry!”

-

-The safe was empty. Papers and large legal envelopes lay on the

-floor, but otherwise the safe was absolutely, completely, hopelessly

-empty.

-

-Mrs. Parsons sat stiffly down on the bed and cried, moaning the while

-about the loss of her jewels.

-

-“How much was there, Mrs. Parsons?” asked Frank, after taking in the

-whole scene and waiting for the first shock to pass.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-Having looked carefully about the room, having seen how thoroughly

-these fellows had worked, Frank proposed they go downstairs to await

-the police.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“Have you any idea who did this, Mrs. Parsons?” asked one of the men

-from the police department.

-

-“If I had, would I have you out here? Wouldn’t I have you chasing

-them right now?”

-

-“I mean, madam, would you recognize them if you saw them again?”

-

-“No, because they wore handkerchiefs over their faces, and that is

-all I saw as I turned to see what was behind me.”

-

-“Did you notice their clothes or anything?”

-

-“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.”

-

-The policeman smiled.

-

-“Pretty hard work to find one fellow out of thousands whose finger

-was bitten.”

-

-“And, besides,” broke in Frank Allen, “they are a long distance from

-here right now. That car started away mighty fast.”

-

-“What car? Did you see them? Did you get here in time to see them get

-off in a car?”

-

-The man from police headquarters swung on Frank.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Where were you when you heard Mrs. Parsons?”

-

-“Out on the river,” answered Frank.

-

-“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.

-

-“Sure. How would we have come here if we hadn’t heard the noise?”

-asked Frank in turn.

-

-The two men from police headquarters drew aside and held a whispered

-consultation. Then the chief of the two came back.

-

-“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?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-“Oh, officer,” cried the widow. “What do you mean? Frank Allen could

-have had nothing to do with this!”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER IV

-

-WHEN FIRE LIGHTS THE SKY

-

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Zat so, young man? Well, my advice to you is to keep a quiet tongue

-or things won’t be so quiet for you.”

-

-This exchange of remarks brought Mrs. Parsons around from her

-hysterical fright to a feeling of resentment.

-

-“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 to gain proof against the men who have done this.”

-

-“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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“This is my house, sir!” The widow spoke angrily. “Mr. Allen will

-stay here until he pleases to leave.”

-

-“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.”

-

-With this Frank and Lanky bowed themselves out of the house and were

-gone down the river bank.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-For both were looking, or trying to look, through the darkness to a

-point upstream. Seeing in this inky blackness was impossible. Even

-their boat, the _Rocket_, was a slightly darkened blob against the

-river.

-

-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.

-

-“What does it mean?” asked Wallace.

-

-“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.”

-

-“But it doesn’t alter the fact that he has accused us of having

-something to do with this robbery.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“Sure, it isn’t there! What’s the use of going 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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-Lanky had asked a question that meant something. What, indeed, could

-the car have to do with the boat?

-

-Frank was silent, thinking, as was Lanky.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“I did,” replied his mate. “There wasn’t any.”

-

-“What? Are you quite sure?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-“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?”

-

-“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 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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-The idea was a good one, and Frank turned to look fairly at his

-friend before he answered.

-

-“Hey! Hold off there! What the dickens!”

-

-The sudden cry had come from out the darkness on the river. Frank’s

-head was back again to the forward end of the _Rocket_. Squarely in

-his path was a dark object of considerable size!

-

-With a wide sweep of the wheel he threw the _Rocket_ hard over to the

-port side, his right hand reaching down to slow the motor so as to

-decrease the impact when he struck.

-

-But the _Rocket_ missed the object.

-

-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.

-

-But the man at the oars was pulling hard on them, getting out of

-range of the light.

-

-“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” came out across the river

-to them.

-

-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.

-

-“Isn’t that the same boat?” gasped Lanky.

-

-Frank said nothing. Instead, he changed the course of the _Rocket_,

-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.

-

-Around it to the far side he went, then swung as closely as good

-navigation of the _Rocket_ would permit, to get back to the course

-made by the rowboat.

-

-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.

-

-Back upstream they went, the searchlight playing here and there,

-seeking for the little craft.

-

-“I’d be careful, Frank,” muttered Lanky Wallace. “If there’s anything

-wrong about these fellows, they’re very apt to do some shooting.”

-

-“I’ll take the chance,” and Frank gritted his teeth.

-

-Over toward the farther shore they went, then swung back again, but

-the searchlight of the _Rocket_, though flung first to one side and

-then the other, failed to reveal the boat.

-

-“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.”

-

-“But it isn’t in sight. It is so plagued pitchy dark that one can’t

-see, anyhow,” replied the other.

-

-“But we’ve come right across their path. They can’t have gotten far.”

-

-“No—you’re right. But they’ve gotten out of sight whether they got

-far away or not.”

-

-“Suppose they turned, too, when they saw us turning, and went to the

-upper side of the island? Let’s take a look?”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Though they searched the waters and around the island for several

-minutes, no trace of the rowboat was to be found. It had completely

-vanished in the night.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“You’re absolutely right, Lanky. And it was that very idea in my own

-mind that caused me to want to hunt it out.”

-

-The _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“We might have been thoughtful enough to have called our people from

-Mrs. Parsons and let them know where we were,” ruefully remarked

-Frank.

-

-“As if we could have been so thoughtful under 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.”

-

-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.

-

-“Was that a trunk or a box in that boat?” asked Frank.

-

-“Looked to me like a large box—about the size of one I saw earlier in

-the day in the _Speedaway_.”

-

-“Huh?” This had set Frank to thinking.

-

-“And that rowboat looked as much like the one we saw at the bank

-above the Parsons place as any other rowboat would look.”

-

-“That’s putting two and two together, Lanky, as rapidly as that

-policeman did.”

-

-“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.

-

-The two boys studied a bright reflection in the sky for some seconds,

-both figuring what this might be.

-

-“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.

-

-“Where can it be? In the heart of town? Or is it further away?”

-

-“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?”

-

-“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!”

-

-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!

-

-Frank gave the motor all its speed. The _Rocket_ fairly leaped out of

-the water on its way!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER V

-

-THE TOLL THAT FIRE COLLECTS

-

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-“I believe it is, too,” came from his friend.

-

-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

-exposed to anything which might start a fire, and then, ready to

-leave, he threw off the main switch.

-

-Out of the building they went on the shoreward side, and started the

-dash for the fire.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Sparks and flying pieces of burning wood were being hurled in every

-direction.

-

-Frank and Lanky, leaping lines of hose, dodging the firemen, roughly

-breaking their way through the cordons of people here and there,

-dashed headlong for the fire.

-

-“Hi! Come back there! Get back of the line!” yelled one policeman, as

-Frank broke through a crowd of onlookers.

-

-Before he could dodge or wriggle through somewhere else the burly

-fellow had him by the shoulder.

-

-“That’s my father’s place!” cried Frank. “Let me through so I can

-help him. Maybe he’s in there!”

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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:

-

-The entire northwest corner of the Allen Department Store was ablaze,

-flames leaping from the tier of windows running up the freight

-elevator. 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.

-

-Frank stood motionless as the sight lay before him. Lanky stood

-panting beside him, their eyes taking in the scene from top to bottom.

-

-“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?”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“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?”

-

-“That’s the idea! But don’t you do it! Let some of the firemen do

-that. They’re better prepared.”

-

-Frank paid no further heed. He called to Lanky, and then led the way

-to the warehouse 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.

-

-“How’ll we get up there?” asked Lanky.

-

-“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.”

-

-As they came out of the warehouse Mr. Allen was there to meet them,

-with the chief of the department alongside.

-

-“Here, Frank, the chief will attend to that.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“We’ll put a hose up there, too!” cried the chief.

-

-“Look out for the garage over there!” went up a shout from the crowd

-just at this juncture, and they all turned to look.

-

-Great fiery embers were floating down on the roof of the garage which

-stood on the opposite side, 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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-Making their way quickly across to the parting 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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“Gee, I hope it hasn’t gotten through any of those floor doors,”

-remarked Frank, as they reached the top floor of the lodge building

-and walked down the stairs.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-Crash! Crash! A sound as of a floor falling.

-

-Just at this moment the fire chief came running toward Frank.

-

-“Mr. Allen’s down in the basement! He went in there a minute ago!”

-

-“Is father in there?” blurted Frank Allen dazedly.

-

-“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.”

-

-“That’s a fact. Went running in, and I yelled at him, because there’s

-no telling what’s in there yet.”

-

-Frank turned and started for the front door.

-

-“Here, here!” the chief grabbed for Frank. “Hold on! I’ll go in there

-and find him! Stay out of there!”

-

-But he had spoken too slowly, and even his words would not have

-stopped the boy. Lanky went leaping 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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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 the basement from the rear office, while the broader stairway was

-used for customers.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER VI

-

-AN UGLY INTIMATION

-

-

-Grabbing his father under the arms, Frank half carried, half

-supported him to the stairway, just as the chief came scrambling down.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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 Helen were out in the Canadian Rockies

-on a visit.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Morning came to find a very weary young man still waiting nervously

-around the hospital for better word of his father’s condition.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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. The cleaning and brightening of the store would require some

-days.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-He told Ralph some parts of the story, the high lights of it,

-following Ralph’s questions.

-

-“Why are you asking so many questions about it?” asked Frank, for

-Ralph was not generally given to gathering such close details.

-

-“Because I heard on the street a while ago that the chief is going

-to have a hearing of some sort and that they are going to ask you and

-Lanky over there.”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“It may be of no use,” replied Frank. “How do we know they have not

-already found the fellows?”

-

-At this juncture a policeman waved to the boys from across the

-street, and came up to Frank.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Can we go?” Ralph West immediately asked, meaning Paul Bird and

-himself.

-

-“Sure, you can go! But I don’t know whether the chief will let you

-in.”

-

-“We’ll go and try,” both the boys agreed.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Mrs. Parsons first told her story, practically the same as she had

-told two nights before, the difference lying primarily in her

-quietness of manner as opposed to the rather hysterical recital she

-had formerly made.

-

-Then followed the two statements by Frank and by Lanky, both the

-same, for they had seen the same things.

-

-Following this came the statements of the two policemen who had

-appeared on the scene after having been called.

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-“First, how far, Mr. Allen, were you out in the river when you heard

-the cries of Mrs. Parsons?”

-

-“I should say we were a hundred yards from shore.”

-

-“How long did it take you to land and get to the house?” asked the

-chief.

-

-“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 dark and we probably were longer than we might have been had it

-been daylight.”

-

-Then the chief skipped over the whole narrative to the next question,

-which was one of opinion:

-

-“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?”

-

-Frank smiled a little, for he and Lanky had talked over the same

-question.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-“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.

-

-“Well, Mr. Allen,” pursued the chief, “perhaps you have some idea,

-since you and your friend have talked about it.”

-

-“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 for them until some prearranged signal had been given.”

-

-At this remark Fred Cunningham leaned over and said something in a

-whisper to one of the police.

-

-The chief turned toward him immediately.

-

-“Mr. Cunningham, we’re going to hear your story in a little while.

-Please do not talk with others meanwhile.”

-

-So Cunningham had a story to tell! Frank wondered what it would be.

-

-“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?”

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“All right, but I have one more question I would like to ask, and

-then I may be through. It is this: What were you doing that day on

-the river with your motor boat? That is, please account for your

-time.”

-

-Again Frank saw the veiled intent of accusation. There was something

-deeper here than he knew.

-

-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.

-

-“Ordinarily, would it take you so long to run up the river on such an

-errand and come back?”

-

-“Certainly not, sir, but you must remember that I had trouble with

-the motor.”

-

-“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?”

-

-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 any other place would have been just as good.

-

-“But you have not told me why you were not in that boat for two

-hours.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“The word has been brought to me that your boat lay there for two

-hours and that you were not on board.”

-

-“The person who told you that told an untruth. I never put my foot on

-shore that afternoon.”

-

-“Mr. Cunningham,” as the chief turned to him, “did you see Mr.

-Allen’s boat tied there while you were out in your own?”

-

-“Yes, sir, I did.”

-

-“And do I understand that you are sure that neither Mr. Allen nor his

-friend were in the boat for two hours?”

-

-“That’s it, exactly,” replied Cunningham.

-

-“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.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER VII

-

-A BREACH

-

-

-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.

-

-Cunningham did not reply. Instead he fidgeted in his chair, and

-looked at the chief, who was nonplussed.

-

-“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?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“Then you do not say that you actually saw my _Rocket_ tied to

-the shore for two hours?” asked Frank, directing the question at

-Cunningham.

-

-“No, I did not say I saw it myself. But the man who told me is a

-thoroughly reliable one.”

-

-“Is he any more reliable than the information he gave you?” Again

-Frank shot a direct question.

-

-“Now, now, that will not do. I am carrying on this hearing,” broke in

-the police chief.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Do you mean to say that this information is not true?” asked the

-chief.

-

-“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 known this man at all, nor do you know anything about

-him.”

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-With this the young man rose to go. The chief stood and raised his

-hand.

-

-“I wish you to remain right here until I have finished this hearing.”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-As they left the room, Lanky took Frank’s arm, but not a word passed

-between the two boys.

-

-Ralph and Paul joined them outside, but it was plain to both the boys

-that Frank and Lanky did not care to talk at this time, and they

-contented themselves with walking along the street.

-

-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.

-

-In the bunch of girls was Minnie Cuthbert, looking sweeter than ever

-since her return from Rockspur Ranch.

-

-“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.

-

-Frank was the first to regain his happy manner.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“I haven’t seen him in the last few minutes. He was up the street a

-while ago.”

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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 _Rocket_,

-especially since Minnie Cuthbert had refused Frank’s request to take

-her and said she was going to go with the crowd of girls.

-

-The _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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, even to the point where she was willing

-to refuse Frank’s attentions.

-

-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 _Speedaway_.

-

-The girls were at the picnic grounds, as, indeed were most of the

-boys, when they swung in toward the shore to land.

-

-“Wonder where the _Speedaway_ is,” remarked Wallace.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.

-

-But the girls vetoed any spoiling of their plans. Moreover, the truck

-containing the best part of the luncheon had not yet arrived, they

-declared.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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 _Speedaway_!”

-

-“Atta girl!” came from Cunningham. “You’re a judge of boats!”

-

-“Also of those who run them!” she bantered.

-

-“And that’s agreed!” came instantly from the stranger. “The

-_Speedaway_, 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.”

-

-“I thought Frank Allen was going to race his _Rocket_ against her.”

-Irene was pursuing the matter insistently.

-

-“That’s what Frank Allen is going to do,” that personage spoke up.

-“The _Rocket_ is ready any time, including to-day.”

-

-“I haven’t the _Speedaway_ 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.”

-

-“How about one week from to-day?” asked Frank Allen.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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 _Rocket_.

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“We’re going to get caught in a rain!” those in front cried as a few

-drops of water fell.

-

-Frank, who had paid no attention to the change in the weather in his

-deep thought about Minnie’s change toward him, now took a look at

-things.

-

-“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.”

-

-He changed the course of the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER VIII

-

-SHARP WORDS

-

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-Minnie seemed to be in a tempest, her expression one of anger when

-Frank spoke.

-

-“Your attention was called to it when we started,” she shot at him as

-they reached the _Rocket_ at the shore.

-

-“Quite true, Minnie. But do you think for a moment that I came down

-here to get myself wet, too, just for the fun of getting you girls

-wet? Just remember that I got as much of it as any one else.”

-

-“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.”

-

-Into the _Rocket_ climbed all the girls, while Frank shoved easily

-off and took charge of the engine and the wheel.

-

-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.

-

-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

-_Rocket_ to its course.

-

-“Please let me run it, won’t you?” she asked.

-

-Whereupon the length of time it took Frank to 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.

-

-“Girls, isn’t this fine? I’m going to capture that port yonder. Fire

-when you are ready, men!”

-

-Minnie, a driver of an automobile herself, fearless of mechanical

-things, swung the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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.

-

-Some one from the picnic grounds noticed that Minnie was steering the

-_Rocket_, 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.

-

-Minnie took the speedy little craft gracefully around the island,

-making a three-quarter turn, and then dashed straight for shore.

-

-Frank gave her directions to go slightly upstream before making the

-turn down again to the grounds, and then cut off the engine.

-

-“It must be truthfully said,” laughed Lanky, as 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.”

-

-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.

-

-Out of the boat all of the passengers jumped as they touched, Frank

-tying, and the crowd was all around them.

-

-“Where were you during the rain?”

-

-“Did you make Whipper’s Island?”

-

-“Did you go into that hut?”

-

-“Look how wet they got!”

-

-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.

-

-“I must have you drive the _Speedaway_!” cried Fred Cunningham coming

-forward and making a very successful attempt to separate Minnie from

-the others.

-

-“I certainly should love to. Can’t we get it out to-morrow?” she

-asked.

-

-“No, because I am going to be out of town. You see, I have some

-business which I must attend to. My two friends are anxious to have

-me with them on a business deal.”

-

-“Did you hear that, Frank?” whispered Lanky.

-

-“I did.”

-

-“Rather nervy, I’ll say.”

-

-“Well, he has the right to do it, I suppose,” returned the owner of

-the _Rocket_.

-

-“Humph, he ought to have his head punched,” was the growled-out reply.

-

-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.

-

-It had not occurred to Frank to bring along the two folding stools

-aboard the _Rocket_, 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.

-

-“What do you think of that?” Lanky asked Frank.

-

-“I think if whatever nerve he has continues to develop, he ought to

-be able to get along in this world,” was Frank Allen’s very apt

-reply. “But he has shown me what a bonehead I carry on top of my own

-shoulders, anyhow.”

-

-“I agree,” Lanky rejoined, without a smile.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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 _Rocket_ and the

-_Speedaway_.

-

-“It will be only a few days more,” called out Fred Cunningham. “I

-have been watching the _Rocket_ of Allen’s, and I saw the way

-it acted this afternoon. It really will be a shame the way the

-_Speedaway_ will run off from the _Rocket_.”

-

-“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.

-

-“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.

-

-“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 _Rocket_,”

-answered Frank.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-But they missed their guess, for Irene Rich was the one who spoiled

-their hopes with the remark:

-

-“Frank was up there, and he ought to know a whole lot. Why not tell

-us all about it, Frank?”

-

-Fred Cunningham appeared to be interested in what was going on, and

-looked from one to the other as questions and urgings passed around

-the little crowd.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Sure they have,” Lanky now interrupted. “What’s the use of serving

-it all over again—cold?”

-

-“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.

-

-Fred Cunningham rose from his seat and walked around the group,

-fearful that something might be said which he would not hear.

-

-“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.”

-

-“That is right,” spoke up Cunningham, a guest, but willing to get

-away from the grounds.

-

-So, there being little else to do, the crowd being weary of the day,

-packing operations were started immediately.

-

-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.

-

-“Say,” Paul Bird spoke up quietly, as he was standing near Frank at

-one time, “what do you say if several of us go up there to-morrow to

-see if we can find anything.”

-

-“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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“It took those men away, didn’t it?” asked Ralph.

-

-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?

-

-“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?”

-

-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 aboard, and Buster’s job was to have lunch for all

-on board, inasmuch as they would spend the day up the river.

-

-Minnie joined the group of boys after a short while.

-

-“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?”

-

-This invitation was a bombshell in the crowd. They all looked at

-Frank for an answer.

-

-“Sorry, Minnie, but all of us have agreed to make a little trip of

-exploration to-morrow to try out the _Rocket_, and we won’t be able

-to go. If it were the next day, now——”

-

-“It can’t be the next day. I can’t change my arrangements, and you

-can change yours.”

-

-“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.”

-

-Frank’s position rather startled Minnie. She was not accustomed to

-having people attempt to alter her plans.

-

-Just at this moment Fred Cunningham walked over to the crowd.

-

-“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 _Rocket_ can

-wait another day.”

-

-“I am afraid it has waited too long.”

-

-“Going to hunt up the place where you had your two hours of engine

-trouble?” Cunningham shot covertly at Frank.

-

-“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.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER IX

-

-THE MYSTERIOUS ROWBOAT

-

-

-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.

-

-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 _Rocket_.

-

-Minnie Cuthbert came over to his side while he was making ready to

-cast off from the river bank.

-

-“Frank, may I ride back with you to town? I’d like to go up the river

-instead of riding back in a car.”

-

-“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.

-

-“Won’t you please tell me,” she asked when they 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?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-The _Rocket_ 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.

-

-At the bow of the boat, Paul, Lanky, and Ralph were close together,

-whispering exchanges about the most recent happening.

-

-“What do you think Frank knows?” Paul was asking.

-

-“I don’t think he knows any more than we do,” 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.”

-

-At the cockpit Frank and Minnie were standing.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Why so mysterious about it, Frank? You know I am not going to say

-anything.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“He hasn’t talked about you, Frank. You know very well that I would

-never stand for anything of that kind.”

-

-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.

-

-“Did he not tell you what occurred over in the rooms of the chief of

-police in the hearing yesterday afternoon?”

-

-“Not a word. What happened?”

-

-“Hasn’t he told you that I stand suspected of knowing something about

-this robbery?”

-

-Minnie gasped in amazement at this question.

-

-“You have something to do with it? Have you really, Frank? What is

-it? Surely you are not implicated——”

-

-“Do you think I am?” he looked straight into her eyes as he put the

-question.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-“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?”

-

-“Yes, on father’s business. I went to see no girl—brunette or blonde.”

-

-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 sly connection of this brunette,

-whoever he meant, with himself—that was another thing.

-

-Minnie asked again what it was that Frank had done to be implicated

-in any manner, but Frank merely asked her to await developments.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“Trust Frank to get to the bottom of the affair,” remarked Ralph.

-

-“I sure hope so,” came from Paul.

-

-They reached Columbia at dusk, warped easily into the boat-house, and

-made for home, Frank walking out with Minnie.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Why not on general principles?” laughed Ralph.

-

-“No—I want something very specific, so that I can feel that I have a

-job to finish well.”

-

-The other two boys felt largely the same way toward the good-looking

-stranger who had forced himself on them.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-Before Frank could go to the _Rocket_, 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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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 told

-much of the details, merely that Mrs. Parsons place had been robbed.

-Mr. Allen was a sick man.

-

-“All ready, fellows?” asked Frank as he reached the boat-house and

-saw the four boys lined up. “Let’s get her out, then!”

-

-So the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“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 _Speedaway_?”

-asked Paul.

-

-“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?”

-

-“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.

-

-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 _Rocket_. Taking the very middle of the

-stream, moving against the current, the bow lifted clear, and the

-_Rocket_ 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.

-

-“The _Speedaway’s_ 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.”

-

-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.

-

-“Where do we go first?” Lanky asked.

-

-“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.”

-

-Frank only shook his head negatively when asked what his idea might

-be.

-

-“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.

-

-In a short while they were standing off the shore of the Parsons

-place. Frank ran a quarter of a mile up the river, and then turned

-and came slowly downstream, drifting.

-

-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 _Rocket_ over to shore, his eyes also

-fixed on the slightly inclining bank.

-

-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.

-

-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:

-

-“What is it that gives me the pleasure of this visit?” speaking very

-frigidly.

-

-“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.”

-

-“I think the police can do that perfectly well.”

-

-“Perhaps they can,” Frank replied pleasantly. “But it so happens that

-two of us are decidedly interested in having something done at once.”

-

-“I think something is being done,” she replied.

-

-Frank saw that she had turned completely against him, for she had

-never been so cold before to him.

-

-“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!’”

-

-Whether the semi-quotation was lost on the woman Frank did not know,

-but he was afterwards to learn.

-

-“So far, you are here without my invitation,” she said just as coldly

-as ever, “and I must ask that you leave the place.”

-

-“We will, Mrs. Parsons, by the road at the rear of the house.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“Lanky, you go down to that opening right away. When you get to it

-go slowly, and back out to the river, while I watch.”

-

-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.

-

-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!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER X

-

-THE ROWBOAT IS FOUND

-

-

-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.

-

-“He’s found something!” cried Frank, as he led the boys across the

-lawn of Mrs. Parsons like hounds in full chase.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“I rather think it is. Let’s study it all very carefully,” Frank

-looked downstream to where the _Rocket_ was riding the current of

-the Harrapin. “First, are we the right distance above the _Rocket_,

-because, if you remember, we had time to throw our searchlight before

-we heard the scream.”

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“Remember the match that was lighted in the rowboat that night, and

-how it stood out above everything?”

-

-“What—a signal?” cried Ralph West, while Paul and Buster stood with

-mouths open, listening.

-

-“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?”

-

-“That seems to answer our question about the automobile,” Lanky

-slowly reasoned things out.

-

-“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?”

-

-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.

-

-“Gee, this is getting exciting!” cried Buster.

-

-“I’ll say it is,” added Ralph.

-

-“Regular detective story,” put in Paul.

-

-“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.”

-

-Frank agreed that the time might be right.

-

-“But,” he added, “do you recall we thought we heard a sound from

-shore as if some one were answering?”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“We haven’t answered the question yet why and when the signal was

-given.”

-

-“What is this—an examination?” Ralph broke in. “I wish I could help!”

-

-“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?”

-

-“Right you are—and if you come to the same conclusions I have, we’re

-going to get on the track of somebody.”

-

-“I have it!” cried Lanky, touching Frank on the 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?”

-

-“The madam said for you to clear out of here.”

-

-“You clear out yourself!” called Frank, starting toward the fellow.

-“We’re doing no harm to any one.”

-

-Henry did not wait any longer. He said, “All right,” and started back

-for the lawn. The boys watched him leave.

-

-“Now, what were you saying, Lanky?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“But why would a signal come from there?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-“They surely did, Frank,” agreed Wallace. “I believe they could have

-done it.”

-

-“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?”

-

-“Four, of course!” came in quick reply from Lanky.

-

-“Well, then, if that’s agreed, let’s go to the _Rocket_ and we’ll do

-some more hunting.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“We’ll go hunting for that rowboat now, Lanky,” said Frank, as the

-_Rocket_ was shoved off from shore. “It is somewhere along the river.

-We’ll just spend the rest of the day finding it.”

-

-“I suppose the first place to start the hunt will be at the point

-where we almost struck it?” asked Lanky.

-

-“Absolutely! Let’s try to locate that spot, and 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.”

-

-Paul and Ralph was sitting at the bow of the _Rocket_ whispering to

-each other, their remarks concerning their hopes that they would

-locate the little craft.

-

-Frank eased the _Rocket_ well out to the middle of the Harrapin, the

-sun bearing down heavily on them now, for it was getting toward noon.

-

-“How about something to eat? Let’s have the eats!” Buster Billings

-demanded when they were well started down the stream, the _Rocket_

-riding the water smoothly.

-

-“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.

-

-It appeared to Lanky and Frank, as the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“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.”

-

-Suiting the action to the word, Frank Allen held the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“Now, don’t you think this is about where we were?”

-

-Wallace agreed that, as nearly as could be told in the daylight, this

-was the spot where they had started their hunt.

-

-“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.

-

-“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.”

-

-Frank put the _Rocket_ hard over, and gradually brought it under

-the trees, though it was a close shave to make it fit under the

-low-hanging branches.

-

-“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!”

-

-Frank was won over to Lanky’s idea, after studying the situation very

-carefully.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-The _Rocket_ slowly, very carefully, nosed out of the willow-nook and

-turned straight for upstream.

-

-“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.”

-

-The boys took the cue of their leader, Frank, and while he brought

-the _Rocket_ farther over to the opposite side of the river, they

-strained their eyes to watch for any trace of it.

-

-An hour passed slowly by, with the _Rocket_ making its way steadily

-up the Harrapin, the boys watching the shore. But no success was

-theirs.

-

-“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?”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-They decided to turn the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Another fifteen minutes passed, and it was noticeable they were

-moving with the current a little faster than they had come up against

-it.

-

-It was Frank who, happening to glance up from the wheel at the right

-moment, saw something which attracted his attention at the shore.

-

-“Look! Do you see anything?” he cried.

-

-“It’s a rowboat!” exclaimed Lanky. “And I believe it’s the same one!

-Let’s get to it.”

-

-Frank started the engine, swung the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XI

-

-THE MYSTERY BOX

-

-

-Lanky Wallace leaped to shore as the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-They gathered about the rowboat, as if it were some strange animal,

-five pairs of eyes centered upon it.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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 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.

-

-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.

-

-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?

-

-These were some of the thoughts which flashed through Frank’s mind as

-the five boys stood looking upon it.

-

-“Let’s see what is beyond the thicket,” suggested Lanky, turning to

-lead the way through the undergrowth.

-

-“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.

-

-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?

-

-Lanky, Buster, Paul and Ralph were starting through the brush and had

-gotten twenty or thirty feet from the boat before Frank followed.

-

-“Psst!” came a sound from the leader of the Indian file, and Lanky

-signaled back to Frank to come forward.

-

-“There’s a house and a barn, and here’s a path leading to them!”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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?

-

-“Let’s sneak up there and see what is the lie of the land,” murmured

-Lanky, ready to proceed at a signal from Frank.

-

-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.

-

-“What’s the matter, Frank? Don’t you think this is the right place?

-There is the boat——”

-

-“We—ll, all right, let’s see what we see. Let’s go along mighty

-carefully. Don’t disturb anything.”

-

-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.

-

-The sun was slanted down toward the west, indicating midafternoon of

-a bright summer’s day.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Lanky, in the lead, came to a halt, holding his hand up in quick

-signal.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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:

-

-“That’s the man who was rowing that boat!” he exclaimed whisperingly

-to Frank.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-Gradually the door was closed, and the boys plainly heard the hook as

-it was brought into place.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-The other boys, stooping and watching with eyes that strained

-and ears that were sharply set for every sound, waited for any

-eventualities. Second after second passed away, but nothing of

-untoward significance came to their ears.

-

-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.

-

-Stealthily opening the door and fastening it from the inside again,

-he peered around the barn, accustoming his eyes to the semi-darkness.

-

-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?

-

-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.

-

-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 notion he could arrange in his mind, Frank heard the stealthy

-tread again, as if the man were approaching the loft ladder.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Frank’s face lighted with a merry smile as he thought of his own

-predicament—inside the barn with the rear door locked from the inside!

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-He signaled to them to keep back. Lanky was watching Jed Marmette as

-he made his way toward the farmhouse.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Let’s follow and see what he does with it.”

-

-“All right. Get him located, and we’ll follow.”

-

-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.

-

-Along the weedy pathway the two boys ran as quickly as stealth

-permitted, now and then peering 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.

-

-“You stay right here and I’ll sneak as near as I can. If I need any

-help, come quickly.”

-

-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.

-

-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!

-

-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.

-

-Here Frank laid a new scheme of exploration, and took Lanky with him

-while the other boys, Paul, Buster and Ralph, watched.

-

-Into the rear of the barn, up the ladder to the loft, and then a

-search. Frank led, for he felt he knew where the sounds had been

-made—and success was his at once.

-

-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.

-

-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!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XII

-

-STOPPED BY THE HAND OF FATE

-

-

-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.

-

-Lanky gasped in the utmost surprise, and looked at the many pieces

-with wide eyes.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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 _Rocket’s_ landing place.

-

-“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 _Rocket_ well into the

-river.

-

-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 _Rocket_ toward midstream, trying to get far enough

-to drift with the river’s current before starting the engine.

-

-Still not a word came from either of the two boys as to the

-happenings within that barn on Jed Marmette’s place.

-

-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.

-

-“Well?” Paul could hold himself no longer. “Please tell what you saw

-up in the barn! You must have seen something of interest or you

-wouldn’t be so quiet.”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“And all the Parsons’ stuff is in that chest?” Paul asked the

-question.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Why do you suppose he buried it?” again Paul queried.

-

-“Hump——”

-

-“Do you think he was putting it there so that no one would find it

-in case they were discovered?”

-

-“I certainly do not!” spoke up Lanky Wallace.

-

-“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.”

-

-“But, suppose Jed goes to jail?” asked Paul.

-

-“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.

-

-“Why kid me?” Paul stuck to his questioning.

-

-“Oh, listen to him! Say, Mr. President, we’ll have to call this

-operative. He’s a mess!”

-

-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?

-

-“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?”

-

-Paul said nothing more, yet they had not answered 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.

-

-Quietly the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Sure,” agreed Wallace instantly.

-

-“Next, you remember they dropped a large box of some kind off the

-_Speedaway_ when I swerved and struck them aft.”

-

-“Yes,” again agreed Lanky. “And it’s my impression the box they

-dropped off the _Speedaway_ 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.”

-

-“I’ve just been wondering if that is true.”

-

-Again silence reigned on the _Rocket_.

-

-Frank called for the lights, which Lanky attended to without further

-ado. The sun’s rays had passed out below the horizon, the day was

-coming to an end, and the boys were getting toward home in the

-beautiful hour of twilight.

-

-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.

-

-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?

-

-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.

-

-But, if this was done, what would be the result?

-

-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.

-

-On the other hand, if some plan were worked out by which the actual

-thieves could be caught removing 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.

-

-Certainly, the locating of the thieves was the way to proceed. But

-how do it?

-

-Could they expect help from the police department?

-

-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?

-

-The distant lights of the town were coming into sight as the _Rocket_

-made the last bend in the river when Lanky finally broke the silence

-which had fallen upon the lads.

-

-“What shall we do, Frank? Shall we go to the chief or shall we follow

-this thing out ourselves?”

-

-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.

-

-“It seems the only thing we can do, Lanky. If we keep this knowledge

-to ourselves we are apt, in some unforeseen manner, to find

-ourselves in a tight box.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-The other boys nodded their assent to this statement.

-

-“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?”

-

-No one replied; they waited for Frank to reply to his own question.

-

-“Simply because we were selfish, thoughtful only of our own

-reputations. That’s rough, but it’s true, isn’t it?”

-

-“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.

-

-“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?”

-

-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.

-

-It being agreed among them, no other course suggesting itself to any

-of them, they fell silent while the _Rocket_ headed straight for its

-boat-house on the Harrapin.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-The _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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 off, and the day was done in so far as the

-motor boat was concerned.

-

-“Now, it’s up to the chief’s office for us, and if he isn’t there

-we’ll have to find him.”

-

-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.

-

-Stopping along the street to pass remarks with other boys of their

-acquaintance, answering questions about the speed of the _Rocket_,

-they found themselves a few blocks nearer to the large brick

-structure without having attracted any undue attention.

-

-This, though unplanned, was the best way to proceed.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Just then one of the attendants at the hospital came rushing up,

-touched Frank on the shoulder and whispered:

-

-“Come to the hospital quickly. The doctor wants you.”

-

-Before Frank could ask questions, before he could get any

-information, the attendant was gone.

-

-Frank turned and dashed for the hospital at full speed, all of the

-other boys right behind him.

-

-Not waiting to reach the gate, Frank vaulted the fence and raced for

-the building. Just inside stood the doctor.

-

-“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!”

-

-Frank stood dazed for a moment.

-

-“Tell the druggist I’m coming!” he cried, turning to the door.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XIII

-

-RACING FOR A LIFE

-

-

-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.

-

-“It’s life or death!” resounded in his ears as he turned to run out

-of the hospital.

-

-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.

-

-“It’s life or death!”

-

-The words were thundered at him by an inner consciousness, literally

-throbbing in his mind.

-

-“Frank, can we go with you? We are going. Tell us what to do and

-we’ll do it!” From Lanky came the words, quiet, meaningful, the

-words of a friend ready to help in a crisis.

-

-“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.

-

-“You come along slowly. Don’t run. Take your time. I’ll have the

-_Rocket_ 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.

-

-The words of Lanky Wallace galvanized all of them into action. He had

-thought of the thing to do—prepare the _Rocket_ for the trip, and he

-alone had started toward the river to attend to the duty of getting

-the boat out of the house.

-

-Just as the other boys started for the door a girlish figure came

-in—Minnie Cuthbert.

-

-“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!”

-

-“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 _Rocket_ down. I’m going now to get it.”

-

-They looked fairly into each other’s eyes, this girl whose

-attractiveness held Frank in its grip, and this one boy who had been

-the magnet for most of the attention of Minnie Cuthbert.

-

-“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.”

-

-“There isn’t a thing you can do—now—Minnie. God and the doctor have

-put everything into my hands. The _Rocket_ 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

-_Rocket_ out. I’m going now—every minute means something. The doctor

-says it’s life or death.”

-

-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 _Speedaway_—was now called into action by the

-Fates to race against the greatest contestant in the activities of

-life—Death.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“There isn’t a minute to spare!” he said, his cap thrown to his head.

-“It’s life or death!”

-

-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 _Rocket_, ready for the race.

-

-“Hey! Hey!” came a cry from the crossing of Fourth Street as the boys

-tore at full speed to the river.

-

-“Frank! Frank Allen!” came the cry.

-

-All three of the boys halted almost instantly, for the loud cry came

-from one who seemed to call for a purpose.

-

-It was Chief Berry, hurrying around the corner. He beckoned to Frank.

-

-“Frank, it is my very sad duty to say to you that you must come to

-my office at once. I want you to explain something which has just

-been brought to my attention.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“I cannot help it—you’ve got to come to my office!” sternly announced

-the officer of the law.

-

-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.

-

-“Wait a minute, young man!” exclaimed the officer of the law. “I say

-you must come to my office with me at once.”

-

-“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.

-

-“I’ll place you under arrest!”

-

-“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.”

-

-Frank Allen, determined, knowing only one duty in the whole world,

-and the chief of police, knowing 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.

-

-Racing to the boat-house, putting every ounce of his strength into

-the legs which carried him to the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-It was only after he leaped aboard the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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.

-

-The _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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.

-

-Though the words of the chief of police puzzled 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 _Rocket_ and himself.

-

-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 _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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.

-

-Faster and faster went the _Rocket_. 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.

-

-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 _Rocket_ on its way, having every foot of speed the

-engine could give.

-

-No word passed between the boys. The two forward gasped now and then

-as a rush of air suddenly shot down their open mouths.

-

-Ahead of them loomed a broad raft of logs, and Paul turned his head

-involuntarily to signal or to call to Frank.

-

-But the searchlight had picked it up and Frank held the _Rocket_ far

-enough over to make around one end of the raft without lessing speed.

-

-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?

-

-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?

-

-Would this race be a futile one? Was the fast-moving specter of Death

-to win this contest?

-

-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 what

-they would have to face if he, Frank, did not get the drug back in

-time.

-

-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!

-

-Frank’s involuntary effort was to push on the wheel, to urge, to

-force the _Rocket_ 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!

-

-He leaned over to see that everything exterior was functioning

-properly.

-

-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.

-

-“Wow! Where are ye goin’ in such a hurry?” came a yell from aft of

-the tug as the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Paul and Ralph released their holds to wipe the spray from their eyes.

-

-Just at this moment something came up the river from the port side,

-long and slim, running directly across the path of the _Rocket_!

-

-The searchlight was shooting a little high, and its rays were cast

-upward instead of along the surface of the river.

-

-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.

-

-Frank saw two ends of it—recognized they were running squarely into

-the midships of a launch which was crossing their path slowly!

-

-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!

-

-Frank threw the _Rocket’s_ nose far over, the rudder acted instantly,

-the _Rocket_ careened, and Paul Bird went tumbling into the river.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XIV

-

-WILL THE RACE BE LOST?

-

-

-Ralph West hung to the tie-hook at the bow with all his might and

-main, and succeeded in staying on the _Rocket_.

-

-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.

-

-But Frank needed no cry, nor warning, to tell him what had happened.

-As he threw the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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?

-

-There was no time to look around. No time to go into reverse, for he

-would first have to check speed forward. No time to throw a lifeline

-or a belt. It was swifter, surer action that was demanded at this

-moment.

-

-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.

-

-Holding the wheel hard over, Frank sent the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-During this narrow circle, with centrifugal force tending to cast

-Ralph West off the bow of the _Rocket_, Lanky Wallace was holding

-tight to the gunwale, stooping low in an effort to keep his center of

-gravity close to the boat.

-

-As the _Rocket_ 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!

-

-“Paul! Paul! Are you all right?” yelled Frank as soon as he realized

-that his chance of seeing the boy was gone.

-

-“Here!” came a voice from the water, and Frank got the propeller into

-reverse, churning the Harrapin into a wild foam in order not to

-go past the point and also in order that he might not run down his

-friend.

-

-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.

-

-“Wow! Some wetting!” he gasped.

-

-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 _Rocket_ which averted the

-collision.

-

-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.

-

-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

-_Rocket_ to see that the lights were in order.

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-Frank put the propeller into gear again with the engine, and the

-_Rocket_ 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.

-

-As the _Rocket_ regained its speed, Frank carefully wiped the surface

-of the river clean with the bright 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.

-

-“Hope that delay won’t cost too much,” breathed Frank through gritted

-teeth as he firmly grasped the wheel and held the _Rocket_ down the

-center of the river.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“How long have we been coming? How far are we?” asked Lanky.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Don’t let that worry you, Frank,” replied Lanky reassuringly. “The

-_Rocket’s_ showing what’s in her. We’ll get back in nothing flat.”

-

-It was quite true that the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Time brings about a healing influence, and time also brings about a

-lack of watchfulness. Just so it was this night.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Like a huge mountain there suddenly loomed from out of the darkness a

-great bulk which blocked their path!

-

-“Look out!” yelled Lanky, as the thing came into sight.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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 _Rocket_, 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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-The _Rocket’s_ 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.

-

-“Hi, there!” called a heavy voice from the wheel-room of the tug.

-“What’s down there? Why not a signal?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-There was a heartiness about the voice that was reassuring to the

-boys on the _Rocket’s_ deck—the heartiness that is so often met among

-sea-faring men.

-

-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.

-

-Then Frank got the _Rocket_ under way again, and was soon well

-past the obstacle, past the hairpin bend of the river, and headed

-downstream again toward Coville.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-Fifteen minutes more of steady running of the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-It was the druggist with the package for the doctor at the hospital

-in Columbia.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-Lanky reached out for the packages as the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“Gee, that was good of him,” Paul was munching on one of the

-sandwiches, the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Mile after mile slipped from under them, Frank’s grip on the wheel

-sure and steady, while Paul and Ralph lay back and went to sleep.

-Lanky, though, was alert to every movement of the boat.

-

-“Here’s where we passed that boat, about,” he muttered to Frank, when

-it seemed that many, many hours had passed.

-

-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!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XV

-

-SCHEMING VOICES IN THE NIGHT

-

-

-“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.

-

-“Out of gas!” muttered Frank, though his reply was mechanical. He was

-already thinking hard as to what they should do.

-

-“Out of gas?” echoed the tall youth. “Oh, Frank, are you sure?”

-

-“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.

-

-The momentum of the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-“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, 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.”

-

-Already Frank was turning the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Lanky grasped the oar, as he had been bidden, and began using it to

-good effect, aiding the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-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!

-

-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.

-

-Ahead of him, since his eyes had become somewhat accustomed to the

-night-lights of the river, 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.

-

-The other boys, Paul and Ralph, were not conscious of any trouble,

-sleeping soundly on the small after deck.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Now came the problem in Frank’s mind of making a landing safely

-without bumping into other boats or without putting the _Rocket_

-against the landing with too much force, nose first.

-

-“Lanky! Quick! Get forward with your oar. 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!”

-

-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 _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket’s_ speed slowed down.

-

-Bump! It was only slight, not enough to do damage to the bow of the

-boat, but it awoke the sleeping Paul and Ralph.

-

-“What’s the matter?” cried Paul, rubbing his eyes and tried to locate

-himself. “Are we back in town?”

-

-“No, just at the island where we had that accident. Out of gas and

-trying to find some,” muttered Lanky Wallace.

-

-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 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?

-

-All four of the boys stepped to the landing, Lanky taking the end of

-the rope to make it fast to the tie-stake.

-

-“What’s the first move? Where do we find gas?” Paul asked.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-Lanky Wallace started in one direction along the boat landing and

-Frank in the other.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Frank Allen stopped. Three men were there, he felt quite certain,

-though the others were but shadows dimly limned by the match’s glow.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-The three men had become two. One of them had disappeared as another

-match lighted up the little area only a few yards away.

-

-“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.

-

-Forgotten for the moment was all thought of his errand, his quest for

-the necessary gasoline to get him back to Columbia.

-

-Not that he was forgetful of the duty owing to 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?

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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?

-

-But that question was very soon answered. It seemed, and Frank often

-thought of it afterward, that all the Fates combined at this eerie

-hour of night to help him.

-

-“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.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-A five-gallon can of gasoline aboard that boat!

-

-The thought struck Frank fairly in the middle of the brain, and he

-wondered whether it might be possible to get it.

-

-Just then the Fates stepped in.

-

-“Let’s walk along and see if we can help,” one of the men suggested.

-

-With this the two walked quietly away from Frank toward the center of

-the island.

-

-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?

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XVI

-

-RACING BACK TO HIS FATHER

-

-

-In Frank’s mind there was no idea of theft. Just as he asked Lanky

-Wallace to do, he now did.

-

-When these two men had calmly and slowly sauntered away from the

-trees, Frank stole silently to the boat and climbed aboard.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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!

-

-Frank knew also that both of them, chums, were making their separate

-ways back to the boat, each with the needed fuel.

-

-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.

-

-Not resting a single time, he made his way back to the _Rocket_,

-moving swiftly, surely, as he recalled every step of the way along

-the wharf.

-

-Back at the _Rocket_ he found Paul Bird and Ralph West, each on the

-_qui vive_, 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.

-

-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.

-

-“Got a can of gas!” he muttered, an optimistic tone in his voice as

-Frank told the news to the waiting boys.

-

-“Did you whistle?” asked Paul.

-

-“No. That must have been Lanky. He’ll be along in a minute with

-another,” replied Frank.

-

-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!

-

-When Frank saw Lanky and Lanky saw Frank they each fell to chuckling.

-But Frank had the better of it.

-

-They hurried in their efforts and poured both cans into the gas tank

-aboard the _Rocket_—Lanky’s much-rehearsed duty of pushing off from

-land or wharf then became necessary, and the _Rocket_ moved out from

-the landing at the island.

-

-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.

-

-Frank alone knew that a race was on between the two craft. One of

-them had to win!

-

-“What is that boat?” asked Paul Bird.

-

-“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.

-

-“How about fixing our searchlight before we get going?” asked Lanky.

-“We’ll need it to make any speed.”

-

-“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.”

-

-Suiting the action to the word, Frank turned the _Rocket_ as he

-backed away from the landing, and soon was headed up the Harrapin.

-

-It was slow work, while Lanky and Paul worked on the connections at

-the light.

-

-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 _Rocket_ 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.

-

-The _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Immediately Frank gave the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Ahead of them, its beams darting here and there, 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.

-

-“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.”

-

-Instantly the three boys were alert with interest.

-

-“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.”

-

-Nothing that Frank might have said could have brought to all three of

-the boys a greater shock of surprise than this.

-

-They started to ask questions, but he stopped them:

-

-“Wait a minute. Don’t be so fast with the questions. I’ll tell you

-all about it.”

-

-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.

-

-“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.”

-

-“But suppose—” started Lanky.

-

-“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 _Rocket_ yourselves. Lanky knows exactly where

-the place is, and you’ll have to depend on Lanky’s ability to run the

-_Rocket_.”

-

-“But, Frank,” asked Paul Bird, “what boat was that at the island—the

-one that’s ahead of us?”

-

-“The one from which I got the gasoline,” Frank answered, though his

-tone was a noncommittal one.

-

-“Don’t you know what the boat’s name is?” Paul continued.

-

-“It bore a mighty strong resemblance to the _Speedaway_,” came the

-low-spoken words from Frank.

-

-“The _Speedaway_!” All three of the boys muttered the word at the

-same time.

-

-“I said it very much resembled the _Speedaway_. 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.”

-

-“But,” urged Paul, “that is Fred Cunningham’s boat, and you did not

-say you saw him!”

-

-“I didn’t,” Frank held back from making any accusation 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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-All stood in silence while Frank held the wheel of the _Rocket_

-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.

-

-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 _Rocket_. Not for a moment did

-he consider the idea that the _Speedaway_, if that were the boat,

-could outdistance the _Rocket_. Frank Allen considered that the men

-ahead of him were merely the same distance ahead as at the start.

-

-“I wonder if that is the boat which crossed our path and caused Paul

-to go over,” remarked Ralph.

-

-“If it is, I want to catch the fellows that are in it and duck all of

-them,” Paul replied.

-

-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.

-

-“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 _Rocket_ will see them through. And I wish Paul and Ralph

-would find some gasoline and fill up the tank.”

-

-The boys agreed at once to this program.

-

-“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.

-

-As they neared the landing place at Columbia Frank cut off the

-engine, relying on its momentum to send the _Rocket_ to the

-boat-house, so that he could listen for the exhaust of the boat ahead

-of them.

-

-“That’s it!” cried Lanky, as all the boys plainly heard the steady

-put-put of an exhaust ahead of them up the river.

-

-“We’ve come along behind them,” Frank said quietly. “The _Rocket_

-must be a pretty speedy boat, after all.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“Is he all right?” gasped Frank.

-

-“All right, Frank. We need this stimulant badly, but we’ve held him

-steady while you were gone. You made a quick trip.”

-

-“I thought we would never get back here! We had trouble.”

-

-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.

-

-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?

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“He’s winning.” He spoke very quietly.

-

-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.

-

-“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 getting that stimulant in time,” the doctor spoke in low tones.

-“Run along now and get a rest.”

-

-“Yes, go home by all means, and get a good sleep,” said Mrs. Allen.

-

-“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!”

-

-Frank walked slowly out of the room into the hall and down the long

-flight of steps to the first floor.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-He had the police! They were on their way to the _Rocket_! 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!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XVII

-

-THE LOOT AND THE LOOTERS

-

-

-“Is there plenty of gas?” he asked as he leaped on the deck of the

-_Rocket_, addressing himself to Paul and Ralph.

-

-“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.

-

-“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.

-

-“Good!” shouted Lanky.

-

-In another moment, with the police chief and his men aboard, the four

-boys got the _Rocket_ out into the stream, turned its nose against

-the current, and started away.

-

-“Now, Allen,” the chief edged over close to the 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.”

-

-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 _Rocket_ around and

-going at a better speed.

-

-“They’re ahead of us only so much as the time since we landed—how

-long has that been, fellows?” he asked the boys.

-

-“A little more than half an hour. Time has been going slow, all

-right, but things have been going fast.”

-

-Lanky had peered at his wrist watch before replying.

-

-“That’s long enough to put them up at Jed Marmette’s place,” Frank

-muttered, while the bow of the _Rocket_ 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.”

-

-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 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.

-

-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.

-

-“Have you any idea who the men are?” asked the chief, when Frank had

-finished the story.

-

-“I haven’t the slightest, Mr. Berry. The only thing that I am

-guessing at is that the _Speedaway_ is the boat that left the island

-to-night and went up ahead of us.”

-

-“What about Fred Cunningham? Did you see him? Is he on the

-_Speedaway_? Surely, he is not mixed up in this thing!” and the chief

-of police showed his surprise.

-

-“No, I did not see Cunningham. I don’t know who is running the boat,

-and I am not sure it is the _Speedaway_. 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.

-

-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 _Rocket_ as it slipped its best along the Harrapin

-River.

-

-“I am trying to picture this whole thing over again. Will you tell me

-why you went back to the Parsons place?”

-

-“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.”

-

-“Why didn’t you tell me these things at the hearing?” asked the chief.

-

-“Because I wanted to tell what I knew and not what I was guessing at.

-Also, chief, don’t you remember that you practically accused Lanky

-and me of having a hand in the robbery?”

-

-The chief did not make answer to this.

-

-“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?”

-

-The chief was standing at the cockpit, saying nothing while Frank

-continued to pour out his thoughts.

-

-“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.”

-

-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:

-

-“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.”

-

-“I guess that part is right.” The chief spoke for the first time in

-several minutes.

-

-“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.”

-

-The chief started noticeably.

-

-“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?”

-

-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.

-

-“There’s the place!” Lanky called out in a hoarse whisper. “Shall I

-keep the spotlight open or shut it off?”

-

-Frank peered far over the wheel and they saw they had reached the

-island where the willows grew so far over the river.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-Frank reduced the speed of the _Rocket_, 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.

-

-“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.

-

-“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.

-

-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 _Rocket_ touched at a firm

-spot.

-

-All crawled off the craft and made their way up to the bank through

-the bushes. They were about a hundred yards below the flicker of

-light which they could see moving toward the bank.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Now they were close enough to hear angry words passing between men,

-but not plainly enough to give them an understanding.

-

-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.

-

-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 leading, never having stopped his advance upon

-these men.

-

-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!

-

-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!

-

-“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.”

-

-“I told you I don’t know anything about no box,” sullenly replied the

-man in the center.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“You know that the chest was not in that place 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.

-

-Again the prisoner said he knew nothing of the box.

-

-“All right then, bo, we’ll see what we can do about it,” and he, too,

-set his suitcase on the ground.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-The chief made no attempt to regain the silver which was in all

-probability in the three suitcases.

-

-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.

-

-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 of this conversation could be used against the

-thieves when the trial came.

-

-“Now, Jed, we’ll give you one more chance. When we leave here you’ve

-got no more than a Chinaman’s chance.”

-

-“I don’t know a thing about where that box is,” gruffly, morosely

-came the answer from the prisoner.

-

-“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.

-

-But Jed was quiet this time.

-

-“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.”

-

-Every one waited for the man to reply, which he did:

-

-“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!”

-

-He was accusing Frank Allen of getting the jewels!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XVIII

-

-THE _ROCKET_ RACES THE _SPEEDAWAY_

-

-

-Lanky Wallace made a move as if would leap out and throttle the

-fellow for making such an accusation.

-

-Frank’s arm restrained him, though, and the chief of police quickly

-signaled for all of them to be quiet.

-

-“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.”

-

-The leader of the little gang spoke menacingly to the prisoner. There

-was no answer from Jed Marmette, and he continued:

-

-“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!”

-

-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.

-

-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?

-

-“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!”

-

-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?

-

-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.

-

-“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?”

-

-The leader was preparing to settle matters for Jed Marmette.

-

-“Throw up your hands—all of you!”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“Halt! Stand where you are or I’ll fire!” commanded Chief Berry. The

-fellow stood still. “Now, get your hands up, all of you!”

-

-This command was obeyed.

-

-“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.

-

-“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!”

-

-“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.

-

-Immediately the four boys started along the trail leading to the

-barn, through the barnyard, and thence up toward the grape arbor by

-the dilapidated old farmhouse. The flashlight helped them on the way.

-

-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:

-

-“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.”

-

-“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?”

-

-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!

-

-Frank started the work post haste.

-

-“Paul, you and Ralph pull that flagstone aside. There is a new hole

-right there and the box is in there.”

-

-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.

-

-“You can’t get it away quickly enough that way. The hole is deep.

-Lanky, find a spade or a stick of wood.”

-

-In only a moment or two Lanky Wallace found a sharp stick that could

-be used for the purpose, and went at the work of uncovering the metal

-box with a willing vim.

-

-Pound after pound of the soft earth came out of the hole, but there

-was no evidence of the box containing the jewels.

-

-Frank was becoming nervous with the excitement of this search, and,

-particularly, because there was as yet no indication of success.

-

-“Push the stick straight down to see how far it goes before it

-strikes the box!” he hoarsely called to the boys.

-

-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.

-

-“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!”

-

-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 placed it in some other

-spot after they had gone.

-

-The three boys looked askance at Frank.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-All four of the boys stood, rather breathless, at the doorway and

-peered in.

-

-“What’s that?” Frank nodded his head toward the broad, old-fashioned

-fireplace. “Go over there and see what those ashes are. It looks to

-me like burned string lying there.”

-

-Lanky was the first to get there. He knelt and studied the hearth

-closely, not disturbing anything with his hands.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Yep, look here!” It was Paul Bird who had found something else.

-“Here is a little fresh earth, yellow, too!”

-

-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!

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-“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 box somewhere in the house, so that he could guard it

-more closely.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-The search was getting nowhere, excepting failure.

-

-“Let’s look in the stove,” said Lanky Wallace, as he reached for the

-lid-lifter and started to raise part of the top.

-

-“That gives me an idea!” cried Frank, wheeling on his heel and

-looking toward the bedroom which was now dark.

-

-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?

-

-“That box was black. All such document boxes are black—they are made

-of thin iron and are japanned, as they call it.”

-

-Frank was starting the disclosure of his idea by setting down a

-premise on which to work logically to his conclusion.

-

-“Now, if it is black, then the logical place to hide it is where

-everything else is black. Is that right?”

-

-“Up the flue!” exclaimed Lanky Wallace happily.

-

-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!

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-He remembered seeing an old case-knife on the kitchen table, and one

-of the boys brought it quickly.

-

-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!

-

-They had expected this—yet they gasped in surprise and delight.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-The flashlight darted hither and yon as the four boys found the trail

-and started for the barnyard.

-

-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!

-

-All was quiet for a moment, then they heard the call of one man.

-

-“Halt! Halt, or I’ll kill!”

-

-Another crack of a weapon tore through the air.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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!

-

-“What’s the matter? Who is it?” cried Frank.

-

-“It’s Fred Cunningham! He was the third one. He got away and is on

-that motor boat!”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XIX

-

-WHEN THE _ROCKET_ SHOWED HER SPEED

-

-

-It was the _Speedaway_! 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!

-

-Out into the stream the _Speedaway_ was moving, the engine running in

-excellent shape.

-

-“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!”

-

-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 _Rocket_

-was tied.

-

-Out on the river they could plainly hear the put-put of an exhaust.

-They reached the _Rocket_. Frank stopped a moment to listen.

-

-“He’s going downstream, chief. If I catch him I’ll take him to the

-jail. But how shall we get you?”

-

-“Send some one back here to get us,” replied the chief sharply, as he

-urged the boys to get aboard and start quickly.

-

-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.

-

-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!

-

-It was when he reached to take the flywheel that he laid down the

-package which he had been carrying.

-

-“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!”

-

-“Fine work, lad! Good luck to you! Catch that fellow and we’ve done a

-good day’s work!” called back Chief Berry.

-

-Lanky had the searchlight going in another second, flooding the

-river’s surface in front of them.

-

-Downstream they started, skirting past the island on the bank side

-instead of going around it, thus saving some distance.

-

-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 _Speedaway_ caused Frank to raise a

-question as to whether they might miss the wily fellow in front.

-

-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?

-

-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.

-

-It was not a meandering or shambling or loitering gait that the

-_Rocket_ 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.

-

-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 _Rocket_ to

-skim and glide along the Harrapin at the fastest rate of speed it had

-ever made.

-

-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.

-

-“See him?” asked Frank of Lanky, as that long lad twisted the

-searchlight from side to side.

-

-“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.”

-

-Just at this moment Frank cut off the motor. All was silent on the

-_Rocket_. From far ahead of them came the steady, rapidly firing

-put-put of the _Speedaway_! 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.

-

-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.

-

-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 by the drug. Then came a brief thanksgiving that his

-mother had reached home.

-

-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?

-

-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?

-

-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?

-

-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.

-

-After all, was the lighting of the match on the river a signal?

-

-“Stop the motor again and see if we can hear him,” Lanky interrupted

-Frank’s thoughts.

-

-Frank cut off the engine, and from a distance down the river came the

-sound of the exhaust from the _Speedaway_. Instantly the engine was

-started again.

-

-“Was it closer this time?” asked Frank.

-

-“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.”

-

-“Well, he ran upriver without lights,” replied Frank. “I wondered

-while we were coming up behind him to-night how he was doing it.”

-

-There was no way to increase speed. The engine was doing its utmost.

-There was only one way to gain—except that the _Rocket_ might be

-faster than the _Speedaway_—and that was to beat Cunningham at

-maneuvering.

-

-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.

-

-Standing steadfastly at the wheel, his entire being now put into this

-purpose of catching the man on the _Speedaway_, Frank Allen cut off

-every inch in the bends and around the islands that could possibly be

-cut.

-

-“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.

-

-“Can’t—right now.” Frank smiled as the spirit of this race seized

-full control of him. He was determined, more than ever, to catch the

-_Speedaway_!

-

-Taking a long chance at losing some of the space that he felt he had

-gained, he suddenly cut off the engine and listened.

-

-They were nearer! They were gaining rapidly! There was no doubt of it

-now.

-

-The lights of Columbia came in sight on the far side of the river.

-Their engine was running full tilt and the _Rocket_ was bounding

-forward like a smoothly running race-horse.

-

-“We’ll catch him right in front of the town!” called Lanky Wallace as

-he swung the searchlight about the river.

-

-“Hope so. It’ll make things easy. But maybe he has a gun,” suggested

-Frank.

-

-“Couldn’t have, unless it was on the boat. The chief’s men disarmed

-them,” laconically replied Lanky.

-

-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 _Speedaway_ ahead of them, though they knew it must be

-close.

-

-“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.”

-

-Frank was once again making a short cut on the 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 _Rocket_ close up, and Lanky can take the tie line with him to

-tie him.”

-

-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.

-

-“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.

-

-Cunningham was peering back over his shoulder as the searchlight from

-the _Rocket_ lighted that part of the river.

-

-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.

-

-Lanky shot the search behind him.

-

-“Look out!” Frank fairly screamed as he saw a tremendous obstacle

-loom in front of the _Speedaway_, less than fifteen feet away—too

-close to permit the helmsman to again maneuver his boat.

-

-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.

-

-So exciting had been the chase that neither Fred 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.

-

-Crash! There was nothing else to be expected! Into the side of the

-big barge went the _Speedaway_, full power ahead!

-

-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

-_Rocket_.

-

-The bow of the _Speedaway_ telescoped as if a giant were squeezing

-down on it, and the stern dipped deeply into the stream.

-

-There was a flash of light for a second, then the gasoline tank

-exploded, spreading gasoline to all parts of the water.

-

-The _Rocket_, being far enough to the rear, could be properly

-maneuvered to avoid a repetition of such an accident.

-

-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.

-

-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 _Speedaway_ against the barge.

-

-The three boys watched closely as Lanky Wallace turned the

-searchlight from point to point, seeking to find the wreck.

-

-Débris was scattered over all parts of the rapidly flowing Harrapin.

-

-“Where is Cunningham?” asked Paul Bird.

-

-The wreck of the _Speedaway_ was slowly settling into the river as

-the water rushed into it and the weight of the engine helped to drag

-it down.

-

-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.

-

-Suddenly a head bobbed up out of the water. It was Fred Cunningham!

-There was a faint cry for help, and he sank again.

-

-“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.

-

-Splash! Over the side of the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XX

-

-WHEN ALL ENDS WELL

-

-

-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.

-

-The explosion of the tank had spread blazing gasoline over the

-surface of the river; the wreck of the _Speedaway_ 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.

-

-Men aboard the barge were yelling and calling warnings and

-suggestions and the searchlight of the _Rocket_ danced about the

-water as Lanky tried to compensate for the failure of Paul Bird, not

-very expert at the wheel, to hold the _Rocket_ where it belonged.

-

-Down into the river went the intrepid boy, bent on bringing

-Cunningham to the surface if possible—and determined that it was

-possible.

-

-It seemed hours to the three boys on the _Rocket_ before they spied

-Frank’s head on the surface, bobbing suddenly from the water, and saw

-that he was tugging at a heavy load.

-

-“Here, Ralph! You take the searchlight! Keep it squarely on Frank and

-I’ll get the boat over!”

-

-Lanky got Ralph West into active service, and, as he felt he could

-handle the _Rocket_ better than Paul Bird was doing, he took hold of

-the wheel and brought the _Rocket_ around to the spot where Frank

-struggled to keep himself above water and hold the other at the same

-time.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-“Let’s try to save him,” gasped Frank, unmindful of his own condition.

-

-A cry went up from the barge when they pulled the two boys over to

-the deck of the _Rocket_, and now the skipper of the towboat yelled:

-

-“Ahoy there! Can I help you any? Is he all right, or can you get him

-over to town?”

-

-“I’ll attend to him. Thank you ever so much!” called Frank, as

-three of the boys turned their attention to the injured lad. Lanky

-had already started the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Frank gave instructions to the others at once, with a snap like an

-officer, and they went to work with vim.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-Into an automobile the boys placed Cunningham’s limp body quickly,

-Frank giving directions:

-

-“Get him to the hospital! Quick! Don’t waste a minute!”

-

-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.

-

-“I’m going back for the chief. You fellows want to come along?” he

-asked.

-

-The question was almost unnecessary. Lanky 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.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-Before the _Rocket_ 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.

-

-Just as the sun broke through the far horizon and shot its first

-shafts of light into the world, the _Rocket_ got away from the

-landing at Columbia and started back to the Jed Marmette farm.

-

-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 principal ones were over except for Frank’s father,

-and the boys fell to chatting gaily while they raced the _Rocket_

-upstream as rapidly as the engine would take it.

-

-“Frank,” said Lanky, as they had gained their full speed and stood

-looking ahead of them along the river, “the _Rocket_ is a better boat

-than the _Speedaway_.”

-

-“Right now, you mean?” laughed Frank.

-

-“No, I mean she always was. She gained on the _Speedaway_ to-night in

-straight running.”

-

-“Not to-night.” Frank felt in a teasing humor.

-

-“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.”

-

-Full daylight was upon them as they made the landing at the Marmette

-place.

-

-“Did you catch him? I know you did!” called the chief as the _Rocket_

-warped into the shore.

-

-“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!”

-

-The chief had to hear the entire story before he brought his charges

-on board, which was done very shortly.

-

-The two strangers and Jed Marmette were led aboard, their arms

-pinioned and locked with handcuffs.

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“What’s all the crowd about? Some one hurt?” asked Chief Berry,

-pointing to the throng that had gathered at the river in Columbia.

-

-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 _Rocket_, 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.

-

-“What’s it all about?” asked Frank.

-

-“Sounds as if they’re cheering this boat for some reason.” The chief

-seemed to understand.

-

-“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.

-

-Frank brought the _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket_

-slipped in easily, seeming still to have the same go and pep that it

-had in the beginning.

-

-“She doesn’t seem to be a bit tired,” said Frank.

-

-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.”

-

-“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.

-

-Instantly they were seized by friends in the crowd, and a thousand

-questions of all kinds were shot at them.

-

-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:

-

-“Doctor, how’s dad? Any good news this morning?”

-

-“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!”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-“You’re a real hero! I’m so glad you did all those things they tell

-about you,” she exclaimed, her eyes shining brightly.

-

-“Who tells about me?” asked Frank.

-

-“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.

-

-So that was what caused this crowd to be here!

-

-“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.

-

-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.

-

-“There’s Mrs. Parsons. She’s trying to attract your attention.”

-Minnie nudged Frank and nodded toward the street, where an

-automobile was moving slowly along.

-

-Looking that way, he could not help but see the excited beckonings of

-the wealthy widow up the river, who had been robbed.

-

-“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.”

-

-“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.”

-

-“And that’s the way all of us feel,” spoke up Lanky.

-

-“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?”

-

-“Surely! We’ll make it day after to-morrow, too!” cried the young

-lady.

-

-“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 a nod to the driver

-of her car and waved the young people a happy good-bye.

-

-“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.”

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-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.

-

-

-THE END

-

-

-

-

-The New Western Series

-

-Exciting, Thrilling Stories of the Old West

-

-

-  TEXAS MEN AND TEXAS CATTLE                E. E. Harriman

-  THE SCOURGE OF THE LITTLE “C”            J. E. Grinstead

-  THE LONE HAND TRACKER                  William W. Winter

-  WHEN DEATH RODE THE RANGE              William W. Winter

-  RAW GOLD                                       Clem Yore

-  DON QUICKSHOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE       Stephen Chalmers

-  THE LAST SHOT                      William MacLeod Raine

-  STRAIGHT SHOOTING                           W. C. Tuttle

-  SAD SONTAG PLAYS HIS HUNCH                  W. C. Tuttle

-  THE SENTENCE OF THE SIX GUN               Anthony M. Rud

-  THE OUTLAWS OF FLOWER-POT CANYON      Frank C. Robertson

-  THE CLEAN-UP ON DEAD MAN              Frank C. Robertson

-  THE MASTER SQUATTER                      J. E. Grinstead

-  SIX GUN QUARANTINE                        E. E. Harriman

-  THE VALLEY OF SUSPICION                      J. U. Giesy

-  TREASURE TRAIL                     Robert Russell Strang

-  MOUNTAIN MEN                               Ernest Haycox

-  BATTLING HERDS                              W. C. Tuttle

-  HOSTAGES OF HATE                          Anthony M. Rud

-  TAKE-A-CHANCE TAMERLANE                 Stephen Chalmers

-  HASKELL OF THE DUG-OUT HILLS          Frank C. Robertson

-  GUNPOWDER VALLEY                         Murray Leinster

-  RUSTLERS’ RANGE                          George C. Shedd

-  TROUBLE TRAIL                                  Clem Yore

-

-

-  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._

-  Garden City       New York

-

-

-

-

-The Movie Boys Series

-

-_By_ VICTOR APPLETON

-

-

-  THE MOVIE BOYS ON CALL,

-    or Filming the Perils of A Great City.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE WILD WEST,

-    or Stirring Days Among the Cowboys and Indians.

-

-  THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE WRECKERS,

-    or Facing the Perils of the Deep.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE,

-    or Lively Times Among the Wild Beasts.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND,

-    or Filming Pictures and Strange Perils.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE FLOOD,

-    or Perilous Days on the Mighty Mississippi.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS IN PERIL,

-    or Strenuous Days Along the Panama Canal.

-

-  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER THE SEA,

-    or The Treasure of the Lost Ship.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER FIRE,

-    or The Search for the Stolen Film.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER UNCLE SAM,

-    or Taking Pictures for the Army.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS’ FIRST SHOWHOUSE,

-    or Fighting for a Foothold in Fairlands.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK,

-    or The Rival Photo Houses of the Boardwalk.

-

-  THE MOVIE BOYS ON BROADWAY,

-    or The Mystery of the Missing Cash Box.

-

-  THE MOVIE BOYS’ OUTDOOR EXHIBITION,

-    or the Film that Solved the Mystery.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS’ NEW IDEA,

-    or Getting the Best of Their Enemies.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS AT THE BIG FAIR,

-    or The Greatest Film Ever Exhibited.

-  THE MOVIE BOYS’ WAR SPECTACLE,

-    or The Film that Won the Prize.

-

-

-  Garden City Publishing Co., _Inc._

-  Garden City         New York

-

-

-

-

-The Dave Fearless Series

-

-_By_ ROY ROCKWOOD

-

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS AFTER A SUNKEN TREASURE,

-      or The Rival Ocean Divers

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS ON A FLOATING ISLAND,

-      or The Cruise of the Treasure Ship

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS AND THE CAVE OF MYSTERY,

-      or Adrift on the Pacific

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE ICEBERGS,

-      or The Secret of the Eskimo Igloo

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS WRECKED AMONG SAVAGES,

-      or The Captives of the Head Hunters

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS AND HIS BIG RAFT,

-      or Alone on the Broad Pacific

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS ON VOLCANO ISLAND,

-      or The Magic Cave of Blue Fire

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS CAPTURED BY APES,

-      or In Gorilla Land

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS AND THE MUTINEERS,

-      or Prisoners on the Ship of Death

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS UNDER THE OCEAN,

-      or The Treasure of the Lost Submarine

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS IN THE BLACK JUNGLE,

-      or Lost Among the Cannibals

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS NEAR THE SOUTH POLE,

-      or The Giant Whales of Snow Island

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS CAUGHT BY MALAY PIRATES,

-      or The Secret of Bamboo Island

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS ON THE SHIP OF MYSTERY,

-      or The Strange Hermit of Shark Cove

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS ON THE LOST BRIG,

-      or Abandoned in the Big Hurricane

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS AT WHIRLPOOL POINT,

-      or The Mystery of the Water Caves

-

-  DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE CANNIBALS,

-      or The Defense of the Hut in the Swamp

-

-

-  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._

-  Garden City      New York

-

-

-

-

-The Larry Dexter Series

-

-_By_ RAYMOND SPERRY

-

-

-  LARRY DEXTER AT THE BIG FLOOD,

-      or The Perils of a Reporter

-

-  LARRY DEXTER AND THE LAND SWINDLERS,

-      or Queer Adventures in a Great City

-

-  LARRY DEXTER AND THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE,

-      or The Great Search

-

-  LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY,

-      or Exciting Days in Wall Street

-

-  LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY,

-      or A Chase on the Great Lakes

-

-  LARRY DEXTER AT THE BATTLE FRONT,

-      or A War Correspondent’s Double Mission

-

-  LARRY DEXTER AND THE WARD DIAMONDS,

-      or The Young Reporter at Sea Cliff

-

-  LARRY DEXTER’S GREAT CHASE,

-      or The Young Reporter Across the Continent

-

-

-  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._

-  Garden City      New York

-

-

-

-

-_The_

-

-FRANK ALLEN SERIES

-

-_By_ GRAHAM B. FORBES

-

-

-  FRANK ALLEN’S SCHOOLDAYS,

-      or The All Around Rivals of Columbia High

-

-  FRANK ALLEN PLAYING TO WIN,

-      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Ice

-

-  FRANK ALLEN IN WINTER SPORTS,

-      or Columbia High on Skates and Iceboats

-

-  FRANK ALLEN AND HIS RIVALS,

-      or The Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics

-

-  FRANK ALLEN—PITCHER,

-      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond

-

-  FRANK ALLEN—HEAD OF THE CREW,

-      or The Boys of Columbia High on the River

-

-  FRANK ALLEN IN CAMP,

-      or Columbia High and the School League Rivals

-

-  FRANK ALLEN AT ROCKSPUR RANCH,

-      or The Old Cowboy’s Secret

-

-  FRANK ALLEN AT GOLD FORK,

-      or Locating the Lost Claim

-

-  FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTORBOAT,

-      or Racing to Save a Life

-

-  FRANK ALLEN CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM,

-      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron

-

-  FRANK ALLEN AT OLD MOOSE LAKE,

-      or The Trail in the Snow

-

-  FRANK ALLEN AT ZERO CAMP,

-      or The Queer Old Man of the Hills

-

-  FRANK ALLEN SNOWBOUND,

-      or Fighting for Life in the Big Blizzard

-

-  FRANK ALLEN AFTER BIG GAME,

-      or With Guns and Snowshoes in the Rockies

-

-  FRANK ALLEN WITH THE CIRCUS,

-      or The Old Ringmaster’s Secret

-

-  FRANK ALLEN PITCHING HIS BEST,

-      or The Baseball Rivals of Columbia

-

-

-  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._

-  Garden City       New York

-

-

-

-

-  Transcriber’s Notes

-

-  pg 8 Changed Rocket was going up-stream to: upstream

-  pg 19 Changed between the Pasons to: Parsons

-  pg 23 Changed Lanky was siting to: sitting

-  pg 26 Changed for the police head-quarters to: headquarters

-  pg 36 Changed spread of carpetted to: carpeted

-  pg 93 Added missing quote before: Let’s get her out

-  pg 95 Changed period to comma: Perhaps they can, Frank replied

-  pg 99 Changed if you are geting to: getting

-  pg 102 Added comma after: finished their work

-  pg 121 Changed way along the trial to: trail

-  pg 121 Changed Rocket toward mid-stream to: midstream

-  pg 136 Added hyphen to: Racing to the boathouse: boat-house

-  pg 136 Added hyphen to: reached the boathouse: boat-house

-  pg 137 Changed Ralph lay pone to: prone

-  pg 143 Changed to be denied hat to: that

-  pg 145 Changed soon had him warmed, inprisoning to: imprisoning

-  pg 176 Changed colon to semi-colon after: seen in the trunk

-  pg 194 Changed switched on his flash-light to: flashlight

-  pg 212 Changed good news his morning to: this

-  pg 214 Added quote before: won’t you organize a party

-

-*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR

-BOAT ***

-

-Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will

-be renamed.

-

-Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright

-law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,

-so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the

-United States without permission and without paying copyright

-royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part

-of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project

-Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm

-concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,

-and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following

-the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use

-of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for

-copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very

-easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation

-of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project

-Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may

-do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected

-by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark

-license, especially commercial redistribution.

-

-START: FULL LICENSE

-

-THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

-PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

-

-To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free

-distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work

-(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project

-Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full

-Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at

-www.gutenberg.org/license.

-

-Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project

-Gutenberg-tm electronic works

-

-1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm

-electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to

-and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property

-(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all

-the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or

-destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your

-possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a

-Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound

-by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the

-person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph

-1.E.8.

-

-1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be

-used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who

-agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few

-things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works

-even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See

-paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project

-Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this

-agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm

-electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

-

-1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the

-Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection

-of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual

-works in the collection are in the public domain in the United

-States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the

-United States and you are located in the United States, we do not

-claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,

-displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as

-all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope

-that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting

-free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm

-works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the

-Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily

-comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the

-same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when

-you share it without charge with others.

-

-1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern

-what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are

-in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,

-check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this

-agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,

-distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any

-other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no

-representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any

-country other than the United States.

-

-1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

-

-1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other

-immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear

-prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work

-on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the

-phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed,

-performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

-

-  This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and

-  most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no

-  restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it

-  under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this

-  eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the

-  United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where

-  you are located before using this eBook.

-

-1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is

-derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not

-contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the

-copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in

-the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are

-redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project

-Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply

-either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or

-obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm

-trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

-

-1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted

-with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution

-must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any

-additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms

-will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works

-posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the

-beginning of this work.

-

-1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm

-License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this

-work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.

-

-1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this

-electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without

-prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with

-active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project

-Gutenberg-tm License.

-

-1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,

-compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including

-any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access

-to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format

-other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official

-version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website

-(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense

-to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means

-of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain

-Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the

-full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

-

-1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,

-performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works

-unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

-

-1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing

-access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works

-provided that:

-

-* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from

-  the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method

-  you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed

-  to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has

-  agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project

-  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid

-  within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are

-  legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty

-  payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project

-  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in

-  Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg

-  Literary Archive Foundation."

-

-* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies

-  you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he

-  does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm

-  License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all

-  copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue

-  all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm

-  works.

-

-* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of

-  any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the

-  electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of

-  receipt of the work.

-

-* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free

-  distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.

-

-1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project

-Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than

-are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing

-from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of

-the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set

-forth in Section 3 below.

-

-1.F.

-

-1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable

-effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread

-works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project

-Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm

-electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may

-contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate

-or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other

-intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or

-other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or

-cannot be read by your equipment.

-

-1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right

-of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project

-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project

-Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project

-Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all

-liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal

-fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT

-LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE

-PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE

-TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE

-LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR

-INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH

-DAMAGE.

-

-1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a

-defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can

-receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a

-written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you

-received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium

-with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you

-with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in

-lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person

-or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second

-opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If

-the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing

-without further opportunities to fix the problem.

-

-1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth

-in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO

-OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT

-LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

-

-1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied

-warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of

-damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement

-violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the

-agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or

-limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or

-unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the

-remaining provisions.

-

-1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the

-trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone

-providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in

-accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the

-production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm

-electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,

-including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of

-the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this

-or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or

-additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any

-Defect you cause.

-

-Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm

-

-Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of

-electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of

-computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It

-exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations

-from people in all walks of life.

-

-Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the

-assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's

-goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will

-remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project

-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure

-and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future

-generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary

-Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see

-Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at

-www.gutenberg.org

-

-Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary

-Archive Foundation

-

-The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit

-501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the

-state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal

-Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification

-number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary

-Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by

-U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.

-

-The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,

-Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up

-to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website

-and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

-

-Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg

-Literary Archive Foundation

-

-Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without

-widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of

-increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be

-freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest

-array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations

-($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt

-status with the IRS.

-

-The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating

-charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United

-States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a

-considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up

-with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations

-where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND

-DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular

-state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate

-

-While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we

-have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition

-against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who

-approach us with offers to donate.

-

-International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make

-any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from

-outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

-

-Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation

-methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other

-ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To

-donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate

-

-Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works

-

-Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project

-Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be

-freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and

-distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of

-volunteer support.

-

-Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed

-editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in

-the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not

-necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper

-edition.

-

-Most people start at our website which has the main PG search

-facility: www.gutenberg.org

-

-This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,

-including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary

-Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to

-subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 69509 ***
+
+  Transcriber’s Note
+
+  Italic text is displayed as: _italic_
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: “THERE HE IS!” CRIED LANKY EXCITEDLY, POINTING TO THE
+MOTOR BOAT THAT LOOMED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM
+
+  _Frank Allen and His Motor Boat_      _Frontispiece_ (Page 203)
+]
+
+
+
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AND
+  HIS MOTOR BOAT
+
+  OR
+
+  Racing to Save a Life
+
+  BY
+
+  GRAHAM B. FORBES
+
+  _Author of “Frank Allen’s Schooldays,” “Frank
+  Allen—Pitcher,” “Frank Allen at
+  Rockspur Ranch,” etc._
+
+  [Illustration: Bookmaker’s symbol]
+
+  GARDEN CITY      NEW YORK
+  GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING CO., INC.
+  1926
+
+
+
+
+  FRANK ALLEN SERIES
+
+  BY
+
+  GRAHAM B. FORBES
+
+  _See back of book for list of titles_
+
+
+  COPYRIGHT, 1926, BY
+  GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.
+  MADE IN U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+TUNING THE ROCKET
+
+
+“Cunningham really wants a race, does he? Well, I’m ready after
+to-day to give him a chance to beat the _Rocket_; but, Lanky, he’ll
+have to handle the _Speedaway_ better than he handles himself or he
+will find himself taking the rough water of this little boat mighty
+quickly.”
+
+Frank Allen and Lanky Wallace were out on the Harrapin river giving
+the regular daily try-out to the _Rocket_. 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) 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.
+
+“You know, sweet little Clarinda—” and Frank started “kidding” his
+pal.
+
+“Listen, boy,” Lanky spoke up quickly, “the Harrapin’s wetter than
+usual to-day. One of us might get damp.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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 you think things are the smoothest is when they are getting
+ready to be the worst.”
+
+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.
+
+“Oh, ye prophet!” and Lanky started laughing.
+
+“Here! Grab the wheel, hold her straight ahead, and let me tickle
+this thing into action,” and Frank let Wallace have his place.
+
+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.
+
+“I wonder who Cunningham is, really,” he said as he wiped his hands
+on some waste and stood again alongside Lanky Wallace.
+
+“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——”
+
+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 _Rocket_
+continued up the river at a medium pace, taking them on an errand for
+Frank’s father.
+
+“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.”
+
+Silence fell again between the two boys while the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“What a summer!” suddenly exclaimed Lanky.
+
+“How?”
+
+“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 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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“You’re sure right,” agreed Lanky.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+With this Frank increased the speed of the boat, and in perhaps sixty
+seconds the _Rocket_ was heading up the Harrapin at a pace which
+Frank had not previously held it to.
+
+“Gee, Frank,” cried Lanky enthusiastically, “what chance has Fred
+Cunningham with this? This is speed, I’ll say!”
+
+“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.
+
+“What’s the use of worrying? I don’t hear anything half as much as I
+see some speed. This is great!”
+
+Gradually the speed of the _Rocket_ was lessened, for Frank was not
+inclined to take chances on something which he did not understand.
+
+“How far do we go?” asked Lanky.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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 view of the
+river boats by great trees and row upon row of shrubs.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“I wonder if she’s afraid to stay there unguarded.”
+
+“Then why doesn’t she move into town, where she would be close to
+neighbors and friends?”
+
+“On advice of counsel, I must refuse to answer,” said Lanky
+banteringly, striking a mock heroic attitude.
+
+Just at this juncture the expected happened. Frank’s exclamation of
+“Now! what’s the matter?” showed that his fears were being realized.
+The engine stopped dead, and the _Rocket_ was going upstream merely
+because of its own headway.
+
+Lanky Wallace took the wheel at the suggestion of Frank, so that he
+himself could get down to tinker with the engine.
+
+Once, twice, three times he tried to get it started, but there was no
+success.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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
+_Rocket’s_ 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.
+
+They had drifted back to a point just upstream from the Parsons house.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+“Now, which of three things was wrong?” laughed Frank, as the motor
+spit and sputtered and then went to running evenly.
+
+“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.”
+
+The two boys washed their hands, Lanky loosened the fastening to the
+tree, gave a huge shove 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.
+
+Then, its nose slowly turned upstream, the engine running smoothly,
+the _Rocket_ picked up speed under the hand of Frank, and out to
+midstream they went, toward the Parsons Island.
+
+“There’s Cunningham right now!” exclaimed Wallace, pointing to a
+rapidly moving boat which was rounding the upper side of the narrow
+island.
+
+It was a trim craft, the _Speedaway_, and worth watching as it
+skimmed around the island and made its way toward the same side of
+the river as was the _Rocket_.
+
+“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.
+
+“Drat his hide!” muttered the other. “Turning directly at us and not
+slowing down.”
+
+Once again Frank eased the _Rocket_ to the port. At once the
+_Speedaway’s_ direction was changed, the boat answering quickly to
+the wheel, as its speed was kept.
+
+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
+_Rocket_, a deliberate attempt to run it down!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE SCREAM IN THE DARK
+
+
+Lanky Wallace looked aghast as the _Speedaway_ bore squarely at them,
+aimed at tearing the _Rocket_ in two.
+
+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.
+
+With one swing of his arm to the motor he increased speed and with
+the coolest deliberation turned the nose of the _Rocket_ squarely for
+the _Speedaway_. 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.
+
+His movement was entirely successful in at least one respect—that he
+got into position quickly for his own next move.
+
+In a flash of time the two boats were almost touching noses. Then
+came the necessary alertness and deftness of movement. With a hard
+tug at his wheel Frank threw the _Rocket_ to one side.
+
+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
+_Speedaway_ around, and did so with such a jerk that a large box fell
+overboard on the other side.
+
+“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.
+
+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
+_Speedaway_.
+
+Her nose now downstream, Frank and Lanky saw that the _Speedaway_
+had also made a wide turn and was coming back toward a box which
+was floating in the river. The speed of the _Rocket_ lessened as it
+neared the other motor boat.
+
+The two men in the _Speedaway_ 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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+By this time the two other men had rescued the box and had placed it
+on the deck forward.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+“What’s that?” called Cunningham threateningly, getting out from the
+cockpit as the two boats lay alongside each other.
+
+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
+_Rocket_ and started toward the side.
+
+“I said this boat was ready for a race any time, and I said it was
+not in the nasty habit of trying to run into other people. Did you
+get me plainly?”
+
+“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 _Speedaway_.
+
+With that he threw the motor into gear and moved away from the
+_Rocket_, which now slowly turned its nose upstream.
+
+Frank and Lanky were both quiet. Wallace wanted to talk, but he knew
+Frank well enough to know that the young captain of the _Rocket_
+did not wish to say anything. Under such conditions Frank Allen was
+always most quiet.
+
+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.
+
+It was just at dusk that the boys came to Northeast Bend in the
+Harrapin and saw the island for which they were headed.
+
+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.
+
+“Well, we’re going to have a moonlight ride on the Harrapin
+to-night—provided there’s a moon,” laughed Frank, as he came hurrying
+back to the _Rocket_ and found Lanky stretched out astern, viewing
+the sky.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said since we started—so far
+as I can recall.”
+
+In the meanwhile Lanky pulled his frame up from the stern seat,
+stretched, jumped to the landing, cast off, and the _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket_ started on its homeward journey.
+
+“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.”
+
+Lanky took up his task, whistling the while, but suddenly ceased the
+music and cried:
+
+“Say, Frank, there’s not a bit of juice. What’s the big idea? Can’t
+light one of them.”
+
+“Throw the main switch on.”
+
+“I have, but not a bit comes through. The line’s dead.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+Fifteen minutes passed without any degree of success, and actual
+darkness was on them.
+
+“Put her nose over to shore, Lanky. No use taking any chances. We’ve
+got to find the trouble.”
+
+Whereupon Lanky did his duty, and the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Doing the work carefully, not dodging about after 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+“Yes, like I’m a good jeweler!”
+
+“Now, little playmate, wilt thee kindly cast off the vessel from
+yonder coral reef?” Frank continued his attitude.
+
+Lanky went shoreward, loosed the rope, and threw it on board at the
+bow, gave the _Rocket_ a push and leaped aboard himself, hastily
+grabbing the oar once again to push the stern away from the shallow
+water.
+
+“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.
+
+Silence now held the boys for a while as Frank picked his way easily
+to midstream and headed for Columbia.
+
+“You know,” Lanky suddenly broke the stillness, 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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Lanky was silent again. Frank joined him.
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“Some one tied there for a while, I guess,” and Frank turned the
+searchlight again toward the middle of the stream.
+
+“Look! A signal!” Lanky had seen a flare of light in the direction of
+the boat.
+
+“Rats, Lanky, you’re letting this darkness get on your nerves.”
+
+“Well—maybe. Anyhow, if it wasn’t a signal of anything else it was a
+signal or sign that he was lighting his pipe.”
+
+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.
+
+“Guess I’m the one that let the light and the sound get on my nerves.
+What time is it, Lanky?”
+
+“Half-past nine o’clock.”
+
+“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,” and Frank stepped over to grasp the flywheel and start the
+engine.
+
+“Help!” It came across the water from the shore of the Parsons estate.
+
+Frank straightened and listened. Lanky was sitting bolt upright. Once
+again there came the shrill scream of a woman. No other sound.
+
+“Wonder what it is, Lanky!”
+
+“Some one in trouble over at the Parsons place.”
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ expertly.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE PARSONS JEWELS
+
+
+Up the inclined bank went the two boys, determined now to get to the
+Parsons house, whence the cries came.
+
+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.
+
+Once more came that cry of a frightened woman!
+
+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!
+
+“Around to the rear!” cried Frank, as Lanky and he turned back from
+the resisting front door.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+“There they go!” both boys cried in the same breath, just as a loud
+cry came from within:
+
+“Help! Let me out!”
+
+It was just over their heads. Frank looked up, but could see nothing.
+The night was as black as ink.
+
+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.
+
+Again Mrs. Parsons, for in all probability it was she, screamed, and
+Frank dived through the dark for the direction indicated by her voice.
+
+“Find a light, Lanky, quick!” he cried, feeling about for the door.
+
+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.
+
+In another moment Frank was smashing against the door behind
+and beyond which the woman was screaming even more lustily, more
+excitedly, than before.
+
+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.
+
+Loosening her arms quickly and lifting her bodily to her feet, Frank
+and Lanky both supported her to a chair.
+
+It was Mrs. Parsons, the wealthy recluse of the county. She was
+thoroughly hysterical.
+
+“My jewels! My silver! They’ve stolen it all and got away! What shall
+I do? What shall I do?”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+“How long were you engaged at this?” asked Frank.
+
+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.
+
+“Oh, I suppose it was fully an hour that I sat here checking and
+thinking idly about different things, then——”
+
+She proceeded with her story, about as follows:
+
+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 enjoyed herself on many occasions
+concentrating on some of them and guessing what they were.
+
+“Suddenly I felt as if some one were behind me,” and she turned
+quickly, apprehensively, around, expecting to see some one.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Then they placed you in the pantry?” asked Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+“How did you get the gag off so that you could scream so loudly—for
+we were attracted by your screams?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“But why scream, when you knew you were so far from neighbors?”
+
+“You heard me, didn’t you? You heard me from the road and came.
+That’s why I screamed.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“Yes, yes, call the police!” she cried, gaining strength and with it
+her composure. “Let’s look around and see what is gone, too.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“All my silverware—gone!” she moaned, her hands to her face.
+“Thousands of dollars’ worth 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!”
+
+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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+She stood quietly and looked at the disturbed condition of things for
+a while. Then she said:
+
+“I wonder if they could have gotten my jewels upstairs. Let’s see!”
+
+She started off with the sudden recollection that these same men
+could have gotten more than the silverware.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“The safe! My jewelry!”
+
+The safe was empty. Papers and large legal envelopes lay on the
+floor, but otherwise the safe was absolutely, completely, hopelessly
+empty.
+
+Mrs. Parsons sat stiffly down on the bed and cried, moaning the while
+about the loss of her jewels.
+
+“How much was there, Mrs. Parsons?” asked Frank, after taking in the
+whole scene and waiting for the first shock to pass.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Having looked carefully about the room, having seen how thoroughly
+these fellows had worked, Frank proposed they go downstairs to await
+the police.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Have you any idea who did this, Mrs. Parsons?” asked one of the men
+from the police department.
+
+“If I had, would I have you out here? Wouldn’t I have you chasing
+them right now?”
+
+“I mean, madam, would you recognize them if you saw them again?”
+
+“No, because they wore handkerchiefs over their faces, and that is
+all I saw as I turned to see what was behind me.”
+
+“Did you notice their clothes or anything?”
+
+“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.”
+
+The policeman smiled.
+
+“Pretty hard work to find one fellow out of thousands whose finger
+was bitten.”
+
+“And, besides,” broke in Frank Allen, “they are a long distance from
+here right now. That car started away mighty fast.”
+
+“What car? Did you see them? Did you get here in time to see them get
+off in a car?”
+
+The man from police headquarters swung on Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Where were you when you heard Mrs. Parsons?”
+
+“Out on the river,” answered Frank.
+
+“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.
+
+“Sure. How would we have come here if we hadn’t heard the noise?”
+asked Frank in turn.
+
+The two men from police headquarters drew aside and held a whispered
+consultation. Then the chief of the two came back.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“Oh, officer,” cried the widow. “What do you mean? Frank Allen could
+have had nothing to do with this!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+WHEN FIRE LIGHTS THE SKY
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Zat so, young man? Well, my advice to you is to keep a quiet tongue
+or things won’t be so quiet for you.”
+
+This exchange of remarks brought Mrs. Parsons around from her
+hysterical fright to a feeling of resentment.
+
+“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 to gain proof against the men who have done this.”
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“This is my house, sir!” The widow spoke angrily. “Mr. Allen will
+stay here until he pleases to leave.”
+
+“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.”
+
+With this Frank and Lanky bowed themselves out of the house and were
+gone down the river bank.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+For both were looking, or trying to look, through the darkness to a
+point upstream. Seeing in this inky blackness was impossible. Even
+their boat, the _Rocket_, was a slightly darkened blob against the
+river.
+
+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.
+
+“What does it mean?” asked Wallace.
+
+“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.”
+
+“But it doesn’t alter the fact that he has accused us of having
+something to do with this robbery.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“Sure, it isn’t there! What’s the use of going 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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+Lanky had asked a question that meant something. What, indeed, could
+the car have to do with the boat?
+
+Frank was silent, thinking, as was Lanky.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“I did,” replied his mate. “There wasn’t any.”
+
+“What? Are you quite sure?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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 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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+The idea was a good one, and Frank turned to look fairly at his
+friend before he answered.
+
+“Hey! Hold off there! What the dickens!”
+
+The sudden cry had come from out the darkness on the river. Frank’s
+head was back again to the forward end of the _Rocket_. Squarely in
+his path was a dark object of considerable size!
+
+With a wide sweep of the wheel he threw the _Rocket_ hard over to the
+port side, his right hand reaching down to slow the motor so as to
+decrease the impact when he struck.
+
+But the _Rocket_ missed the object.
+
+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.
+
+But the man at the oars was pulling hard on them, getting out of
+range of the light.
+
+“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” came out across the river
+to them.
+
+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.
+
+“Isn’t that the same boat?” gasped Lanky.
+
+Frank said nothing. Instead, he changed the course of the _Rocket_,
+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.
+
+Around it to the far side he went, then swung as closely as good
+navigation of the _Rocket_ would permit, to get back to the course
+made by the rowboat.
+
+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.
+
+Back upstream they went, the searchlight playing here and there,
+seeking for the little craft.
+
+“I’d be careful, Frank,” muttered Lanky Wallace. “If there’s anything
+wrong about these fellows, they’re very apt to do some shooting.”
+
+“I’ll take the chance,” and Frank gritted his teeth.
+
+Over toward the farther shore they went, then swung back again, but
+the searchlight of the _Rocket_, though flung first to one side and
+then the other, failed to reveal the boat.
+
+“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.”
+
+“But it isn’t in sight. It is so plagued pitchy dark that one can’t
+see, anyhow,” replied the other.
+
+“But we’ve come right across their path. They can’t have gotten far.”
+
+“No—you’re right. But they’ve gotten out of sight whether they got
+far away or not.”
+
+“Suppose they turned, too, when they saw us turning, and went to the
+upper side of the island? Let’s take a look?”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Though they searched the waters and around the island for several
+minutes, no trace of the rowboat was to be found. It had completely
+vanished in the night.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“You’re absolutely right, Lanky. And it was that very idea in my own
+mind that caused me to want to hunt it out.”
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“We might have been thoughtful enough to have called our people from
+Mrs. Parsons and let them know where we were,” ruefully remarked
+Frank.
+
+“As if we could have been so thoughtful under 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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Was that a trunk or a box in that boat?” asked Frank.
+
+“Looked to me like a large box—about the size of one I saw earlier in
+the day in the _Speedaway_.”
+
+“Huh?” This had set Frank to thinking.
+
+“And that rowboat looked as much like the one we saw at the bank
+above the Parsons place as any other rowboat would look.”
+
+“That’s putting two and two together, Lanky, as rapidly as that
+policeman did.”
+
+“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.
+
+The two boys studied a bright reflection in the sky for some seconds,
+both figuring what this might be.
+
+“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.
+
+“Where can it be? In the heart of town? Or is it further away?”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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!”
+
+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!
+
+Frank gave the motor all its speed. The _Rocket_ fairly leaped out of
+the water on its way!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE TOLL THAT FIRE COLLECTS
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“I believe it is, too,” came from his friend.
+
+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
+exposed to anything which might start a fire, and then, ready to
+leave, he threw off the main switch.
+
+Out of the building they went on the shoreward side, and started the
+dash for the fire.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Sparks and flying pieces of burning wood were being hurled in every
+direction.
+
+Frank and Lanky, leaping lines of hose, dodging the firemen, roughly
+breaking their way through the cordons of people here and there,
+dashed headlong for the fire.
+
+“Hi! Come back there! Get back of the line!” yelled one policeman, as
+Frank broke through a crowd of onlookers.
+
+Before he could dodge or wriggle through somewhere else the burly
+fellow had him by the shoulder.
+
+“That’s my father’s place!” cried Frank. “Let me through so I can
+help him. Maybe he’s in there!”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+The entire northwest corner of the Allen Department Store was ablaze,
+flames leaping from the tier of windows running up the freight
+elevator. 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.
+
+Frank stood motionless as the sight lay before him. Lanky stood
+panting beside him, their eyes taking in the scene from top to bottom.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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?”
+
+“That’s the idea! But don’t you do it! Let some of the firemen do
+that. They’re better prepared.”
+
+Frank paid no further heed. He called to Lanky, and then led the way
+to the warehouse 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.
+
+“How’ll we get up there?” asked Lanky.
+
+“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.”
+
+As they came out of the warehouse Mr. Allen was there to meet them,
+with the chief of the department alongside.
+
+“Here, Frank, the chief will attend to that.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“We’ll put a hose up there, too!” cried the chief.
+
+“Look out for the garage over there!” went up a shout from the crowd
+just at this juncture, and they all turned to look.
+
+Great fiery embers were floating down on the roof of the garage which
+stood on the opposite side, 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Making their way quickly across to the parting 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Gee, I hope it hasn’t gotten through any of those floor doors,”
+remarked Frank, as they reached the top floor of the lodge building
+and walked down the stairs.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+Crash! Crash! A sound as of a floor falling.
+
+Just at this moment the fire chief came running toward Frank.
+
+“Mr. Allen’s down in the basement! He went in there a minute ago!”
+
+“Is father in there?” blurted Frank Allen dazedly.
+
+“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.”
+
+“That’s a fact. Went running in, and I yelled at him, because there’s
+no telling what’s in there yet.”
+
+Frank turned and started for the front door.
+
+“Here, here!” the chief grabbed for Frank. “Hold on! I’ll go in there
+and find him! Stay out of there!”
+
+But he had spoken too slowly, and even his words would not have
+stopped the boy. Lanky went leaping 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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 the basement from the rear office, while the broader stairway was
+used for customers.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+AN UGLY INTIMATION
+
+
+Grabbing his father under the arms, Frank half carried, half
+supported him to the stairway, just as the chief came scrambling down.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Helen were out in the Canadian Rockies
+on a visit.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Morning came to find a very weary young man still waiting nervously
+around the hospital for better word of his father’s condition.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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. The cleaning and brightening of the store would require some
+days.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+He told Ralph some parts of the story, the high lights of it,
+following Ralph’s questions.
+
+“Why are you asking so many questions about it?” asked Frank, for
+Ralph was not generally given to gathering such close details.
+
+“Because I heard on the street a while ago that the chief is going
+to have a hearing of some sort and that they are going to ask you and
+Lanky over there.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“It may be of no use,” replied Frank. “How do we know they have not
+already found the fellows?”
+
+At this juncture a policeman waved to the boys from across the
+street, and came up to Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Can we go?” Ralph West immediately asked, meaning Paul Bird and
+himself.
+
+“Sure, you can go! But I don’t know whether the chief will let you
+in.”
+
+“We’ll go and try,” both the boys agreed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Mrs. Parsons first told her story, practically the same as she had
+told two nights before, the difference lying primarily in her
+quietness of manner as opposed to the rather hysterical recital she
+had formerly made.
+
+Then followed the two statements by Frank and by Lanky, both the
+same, for they had seen the same things.
+
+Following this came the statements of the two policemen who had
+appeared on the scene after having been called.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“First, how far, Mr. Allen, were you out in the river when you heard
+the cries of Mrs. Parsons?”
+
+“I should say we were a hundred yards from shore.”
+
+“How long did it take you to land and get to the house?” asked the
+chief.
+
+“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 dark and we probably were longer than we might have been had it
+been daylight.”
+
+Then the chief skipped over the whole narrative to the next question,
+which was one of opinion:
+
+“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?”
+
+Frank smiled a little, for he and Lanky had talked over the same
+question.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.
+
+“Well, Mr. Allen,” pursued the chief, “perhaps you have some idea,
+since you and your friend have talked about it.”
+
+“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 for them until some prearranged signal had been given.”
+
+At this remark Fred Cunningham leaned over and said something in a
+whisper to one of the police.
+
+The chief turned toward him immediately.
+
+“Mr. Cunningham, we’re going to hear your story in a little while.
+Please do not talk with others meanwhile.”
+
+So Cunningham had a story to tell! Frank wondered what it would be.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“All right, but I have one more question I would like to ask, and
+then I may be through. It is this: What were you doing that day on
+the river with your motor boat? That is, please account for your
+time.”
+
+Again Frank saw the veiled intent of accusation. There was something
+deeper here than he knew.
+
+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.
+
+“Ordinarily, would it take you so long to run up the river on such an
+errand and come back?”
+
+“Certainly not, sir, but you must remember that I had trouble with
+the motor.”
+
+“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?”
+
+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 any other place would have been just as good.
+
+“But you have not told me why you were not in that boat for two
+hours.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“The word has been brought to me that your boat lay there for two
+hours and that you were not on board.”
+
+“The person who told you that told an untruth. I never put my foot on
+shore that afternoon.”
+
+“Mr. Cunningham,” as the chief turned to him, “did you see Mr.
+Allen’s boat tied there while you were out in your own?”
+
+“Yes, sir, I did.”
+
+“And do I understand that you are sure that neither Mr. Allen nor his
+friend were in the boat for two hours?”
+
+“That’s it, exactly,” replied Cunningham.
+
+“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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A BREACH
+
+
+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.
+
+Cunningham did not reply. Instead he fidgeted in his chair, and
+looked at the chief, who was nonplussed.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“Then you do not say that you actually saw my _Rocket_ tied to
+the shore for two hours?” asked Frank, directing the question at
+Cunningham.
+
+“No, I did not say I saw it myself. But the man who told me is a
+thoroughly reliable one.”
+
+“Is he any more reliable than the information he gave you?” Again
+Frank shot a direct question.
+
+“Now, now, that will not do. I am carrying on this hearing,” broke in
+the police chief.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Do you mean to say that this information is not true?” asked the
+chief.
+
+“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 known this man at all, nor do you know anything about
+him.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+With this the young man rose to go. The chief stood and raised his
+hand.
+
+“I wish you to remain right here until I have finished this hearing.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+As they left the room, Lanky took Frank’s arm, but not a word passed
+between the two boys.
+
+Ralph and Paul joined them outside, but it was plain to both the boys
+that Frank and Lanky did not care to talk at this time, and they
+contented themselves with walking along the street.
+
+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.
+
+In the bunch of girls was Minnie Cuthbert, looking sweeter than ever
+since her return from Rockspur Ranch.
+
+“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.
+
+Frank was the first to regain his happy manner.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“I haven’t seen him in the last few minutes. He was up the street a
+while ago.”
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_,
+especially since Minnie Cuthbert had refused Frank’s request to take
+her and said she was going to go with the crowd of girls.
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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, even to the point where she was willing
+to refuse Frank’s attentions.
+
+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 _Speedaway_.
+
+The girls were at the picnic grounds, as, indeed were most of the
+boys, when they swung in toward the shore to land.
+
+“Wonder where the _Speedaway_ is,” remarked Wallace.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+But the girls vetoed any spoiling of their plans. Moreover, the truck
+containing the best part of the luncheon had not yet arrived, they
+declared.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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 _Speedaway_!”
+
+“Atta girl!” came from Cunningham. “You’re a judge of boats!”
+
+“Also of those who run them!” she bantered.
+
+“And that’s agreed!” came instantly from the stranger. “The
+_Speedaway_, 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.”
+
+“I thought Frank Allen was going to race his _Rocket_ against her.”
+Irene was pursuing the matter insistently.
+
+“That’s what Frank Allen is going to do,” that personage spoke up.
+“The _Rocket_ is ready any time, including to-day.”
+
+“I haven’t the _Speedaway_ 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.”
+
+“How about one week from to-day?” asked Frank Allen.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_.
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“We’re going to get caught in a rain!” those in front cried as a few
+drops of water fell.
+
+Frank, who had paid no attention to the change in the weather in his
+deep thought about Minnie’s change toward him, now took a look at
+things.
+
+“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.”
+
+He changed the course of the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+SHARP WORDS
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Minnie seemed to be in a tempest, her expression one of anger when
+Frank spoke.
+
+“Your attention was called to it when we started,” she shot at him as
+they reached the _Rocket_ at the shore.
+
+“Quite true, Minnie. But do you think for a moment that I came down
+here to get myself wet, too, just for the fun of getting you girls
+wet? Just remember that I got as much of it as any one else.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Into the _Rocket_ climbed all the girls, while Frank shoved easily
+off and took charge of the engine and the wheel.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_Rocket_ to its course.
+
+“Please let me run it, won’t you?” she asked.
+
+Whereupon the length of time it took Frank to 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.
+
+“Girls, isn’t this fine? I’m going to capture that port yonder. Fire
+when you are ready, men!”
+
+Minnie, a driver of an automobile herself, fearless of mechanical
+things, swung the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+Some one from the picnic grounds noticed that Minnie was steering the
+_Rocket_, 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.
+
+Minnie took the speedy little craft gracefully around the island,
+making a three-quarter turn, and then dashed straight for shore.
+
+Frank gave her directions to go slightly upstream before making the
+turn down again to the grounds, and then cut off the engine.
+
+“It must be truthfully said,” laughed Lanky, as 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.”
+
+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.
+
+Out of the boat all of the passengers jumped as they touched, Frank
+tying, and the crowd was all around them.
+
+“Where were you during the rain?”
+
+“Did you make Whipper’s Island?”
+
+“Did you go into that hut?”
+
+“Look how wet they got!”
+
+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.
+
+“I must have you drive the _Speedaway_!” cried Fred Cunningham coming
+forward and making a very successful attempt to separate Minnie from
+the others.
+
+“I certainly should love to. Can’t we get it out to-morrow?” she
+asked.
+
+“No, because I am going to be out of town. You see, I have some
+business which I must attend to. My two friends are anxious to have
+me with them on a business deal.”
+
+“Did you hear that, Frank?” whispered Lanky.
+
+“I did.”
+
+“Rather nervy, I’ll say.”
+
+“Well, he has the right to do it, I suppose,” returned the owner of
+the _Rocket_.
+
+“Humph, he ought to have his head punched,” was the growled-out reply.
+
+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.
+
+It had not occurred to Frank to bring along the two folding stools
+aboard the _Rocket_, 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.
+
+“What do you think of that?” Lanky asked Frank.
+
+“I think if whatever nerve he has continues to develop, he ought to
+be able to get along in this world,” was Frank Allen’s very apt
+reply. “But he has shown me what a bonehead I carry on top of my own
+shoulders, anyhow.”
+
+“I agree,” Lanky rejoined, without a smile.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ and the
+_Speedaway_.
+
+“It will be only a few days more,” called out Fred Cunningham. “I
+have been watching the _Rocket_ of Allen’s, and I saw the way
+it acted this afternoon. It really will be a shame the way the
+_Speedaway_ will run off from the _Rocket_.”
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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 _Rocket_,”
+answered Frank.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But they missed their guess, for Irene Rich was the one who spoiled
+their hopes with the remark:
+
+“Frank was up there, and he ought to know a whole lot. Why not tell
+us all about it, Frank?”
+
+Fred Cunningham appeared to be interested in what was going on, and
+looked from one to the other as questions and urgings passed around
+the little crowd.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Sure they have,” Lanky now interrupted. “What’s the use of serving
+it all over again—cold?”
+
+“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.
+
+Fred Cunningham rose from his seat and walked around the group,
+fearful that something might be said which he would not hear.
+
+“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.”
+
+“That is right,” spoke up Cunningham, a guest, but willing to get
+away from the grounds.
+
+So, there being little else to do, the crowd being weary of the day,
+packing operations were started immediately.
+
+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.
+
+“Say,” Paul Bird spoke up quietly, as he was standing near Frank at
+one time, “what do you say if several of us go up there to-morrow to
+see if we can find anything.”
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“It took those men away, didn’t it?” asked Ralph.
+
+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?
+
+“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?”
+
+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 aboard, and Buster’s job was to have lunch for all
+on board, inasmuch as they would spend the day up the river.
+
+Minnie joined the group of boys after a short while.
+
+“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?”
+
+This invitation was a bombshell in the crowd. They all looked at
+Frank for an answer.
+
+“Sorry, Minnie, but all of us have agreed to make a little trip of
+exploration to-morrow to try out the _Rocket_, and we won’t be able
+to go. If it were the next day, now——”
+
+“It can’t be the next day. I can’t change my arrangements, and you
+can change yours.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank’s position rather startled Minnie. She was not accustomed to
+having people attempt to alter her plans.
+
+Just at this moment Fred Cunningham walked over to the crowd.
+
+“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 _Rocket_ can
+wait another day.”
+
+“I am afraid it has waited too long.”
+
+“Going to hunt up the place where you had your two hours of engine
+trouble?” Cunningham shot covertly at Frank.
+
+“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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE MYSTERIOUS ROWBOAT
+
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_.
+
+Minnie Cuthbert came over to his side while he was making ready to
+cast off from the river bank.
+
+“Frank, may I ride back with you to town? I’d like to go up the river
+instead of riding back in a car.”
+
+“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.
+
+“Won’t you please tell me,” she asked when they 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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+At the bow of the boat, Paul, Lanky, and Ralph were close together,
+whispering exchanges about the most recent happening.
+
+“What do you think Frank knows?” Paul was asking.
+
+“I don’t think he knows any more than we do,” 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.”
+
+At the cockpit Frank and Minnie were standing.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Why so mysterious about it, Frank? You know I am not going to say
+anything.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“He hasn’t talked about you, Frank. You know very well that I would
+never stand for anything of that kind.”
+
+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.
+
+“Did he not tell you what occurred over in the rooms of the chief of
+police in the hearing yesterday afternoon?”
+
+“Not a word. What happened?”
+
+“Hasn’t he told you that I stand suspected of knowing something about
+this robbery?”
+
+Minnie gasped in amazement at this question.
+
+“You have something to do with it? Have you really, Frank? What is
+it? Surely you are not implicated——”
+
+“Do you think I am?” he looked straight into her eyes as he put the
+question.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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?”
+
+“Yes, on father’s business. I went to see no girl—brunette or blonde.”
+
+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 sly connection of this brunette,
+whoever he meant, with himself—that was another thing.
+
+Minnie asked again what it was that Frank had done to be implicated
+in any manner, but Frank merely asked her to await developments.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Trust Frank to get to the bottom of the affair,” remarked Ralph.
+
+“I sure hope so,” came from Paul.
+
+They reached Columbia at dusk, warped easily into the boat-house, and
+made for home, Frank walking out with Minnie.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Why not on general principles?” laughed Ralph.
+
+“No—I want something very specific, so that I can feel that I have a
+job to finish well.”
+
+The other two boys felt largely the same way toward the good-looking
+stranger who had forced himself on them.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Before Frank could go to the _Rocket_, 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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 told
+much of the details, merely that Mrs. Parsons place had been robbed.
+Mr. Allen was a sick man.
+
+“All ready, fellows?” asked Frank as he reached the boat-house and
+saw the four boys lined up. “Let’s get her out, then!”
+
+So the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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 _Speedaway_?”
+asked Paul.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.
+
+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 _Rocket_. Taking the very middle of the
+stream, moving against the current, the bow lifted clear, and the
+_Rocket_ 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.
+
+“The _Speedaway’s_ 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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Where do we go first?” Lanky asked.
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank only shook his head negatively when asked what his idea might
+be.
+
+“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.
+
+In a short while they were standing off the shore of the Parsons
+place. Frank ran a quarter of a mile up the river, and then turned
+and came slowly downstream, drifting.
+
+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 _Rocket_ over to shore, his eyes also
+fixed on the slightly inclining bank.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“What is it that gives me the pleasure of this visit?” speaking very
+frigidly.
+
+“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.”
+
+“I think the police can do that perfectly well.”
+
+“Perhaps they can,” Frank replied pleasantly. “But it so happens that
+two of us are decidedly interested in having something done at once.”
+
+“I think something is being done,” she replied.
+
+Frank saw that she had turned completely against him, for she had
+never been so cold before to him.
+
+“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!’”
+
+Whether the semi-quotation was lost on the woman Frank did not know,
+but he was afterwards to learn.
+
+“So far, you are here without my invitation,” she said just as coldly
+as ever, “and I must ask that you leave the place.”
+
+“We will, Mrs. Parsons, by the road at the rear of the house.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Lanky, you go down to that opening right away. When you get to it
+go slowly, and back out to the river, while I watch.”
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE ROWBOAT IS FOUND
+
+
+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.
+
+“He’s found something!” cried Frank, as he led the boys across the
+lawn of Mrs. Parsons like hounds in full chase.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“I rather think it is. Let’s study it all very carefully,” Frank
+looked downstream to where the _Rocket_ was riding the current of
+the Harrapin. “First, are we the right distance above the _Rocket_,
+because, if you remember, we had time to throw our searchlight before
+we heard the scream.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Remember the match that was lighted in the rowboat that night, and
+how it stood out above everything?”
+
+“What—a signal?” cried Ralph West, while Paul and Buster stood with
+mouths open, listening.
+
+“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?”
+
+“That seems to answer our question about the automobile,” Lanky
+slowly reasoned things out.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+“Gee, this is getting exciting!” cried Buster.
+
+“I’ll say it is,” added Ralph.
+
+“Regular detective story,” put in Paul.
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank agreed that the time might be right.
+
+“But,” he added, “do you recall we thought we heard a sound from
+shore as if some one were answering?”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“We haven’t answered the question yet why and when the signal was
+given.”
+
+“What is this—an examination?” Ralph broke in. “I wish I could help!”
+
+“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?”
+
+“Right you are—and if you come to the same conclusions I have, we’re
+going to get on the track of somebody.”
+
+“I have it!” cried Lanky, touching Frank on the 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?”
+
+“The madam said for you to clear out of here.”
+
+“You clear out yourself!” called Frank, starting toward the fellow.
+“We’re doing no harm to any one.”
+
+Henry did not wait any longer. He said, “All right,” and started back
+for the lawn. The boys watched him leave.
+
+“Now, what were you saying, Lanky?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“But why would a signal come from there?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“They surely did, Frank,” agreed Wallace. “I believe they could have
+done it.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“Four, of course!” came in quick reply from Lanky.
+
+“Well, then, if that’s agreed, let’s go to the _Rocket_ and we’ll do
+some more hunting.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“We’ll go hunting for that rowboat now, Lanky,” said Frank, as the
+_Rocket_ was shoved off from shore. “It is somewhere along the river.
+We’ll just spend the rest of the day finding it.”
+
+“I suppose the first place to start the hunt will be at the point
+where we almost struck it?” asked Lanky.
+
+“Absolutely! Let’s try to locate that spot, and 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.”
+
+Paul and Ralph was sitting at the bow of the _Rocket_ whispering to
+each other, their remarks concerning their hopes that they would
+locate the little craft.
+
+Frank eased the _Rocket_ well out to the middle of the Harrapin, the
+sun bearing down heavily on them now, for it was getting toward noon.
+
+“How about something to eat? Let’s have the eats!” Buster Billings
+demanded when they were well started down the stream, the _Rocket_
+riding the water smoothly.
+
+“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.
+
+It appeared to Lanky and Frank, as the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Suiting the action to the word, Frank Allen held the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“Now, don’t you think this is about where we were?”
+
+Wallace agreed that, as nearly as could be told in the daylight, this
+was the spot where they had started their hunt.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank put the _Rocket_ hard over, and gradually brought it under
+the trees, though it was a close shave to make it fit under the
+low-hanging branches.
+
+“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!”
+
+Frank was won over to Lanky’s idea, after studying the situation very
+carefully.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+The _Rocket_ slowly, very carefully, nosed out of the willow-nook and
+turned straight for upstream.
+
+“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.”
+
+The boys took the cue of their leader, Frank, and while he brought
+the _Rocket_ farther over to the opposite side of the river, they
+strained their eyes to watch for any trace of it.
+
+An hour passed slowly by, with the _Rocket_ making its way steadily
+up the Harrapin, the boys watching the shore. But no success was
+theirs.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+They decided to turn the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Another fifteen minutes passed, and it was noticeable they were
+moving with the current a little faster than they had come up against
+it.
+
+It was Frank who, happening to glance up from the wheel at the right
+moment, saw something which attracted his attention at the shore.
+
+“Look! Do you see anything?” he cried.
+
+“It’s a rowboat!” exclaimed Lanky. “And I believe it’s the same one!
+Let’s get to it.”
+
+Frank started the engine, swung the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE MYSTERY BOX
+
+
+Lanky Wallace leaped to shore as the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+They gathered about the rowboat, as if it were some strange animal,
+five pairs of eyes centered upon it.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+These were some of the thoughts which flashed through Frank’s mind as
+the five boys stood looking upon it.
+
+“Let’s see what is beyond the thicket,” suggested Lanky, turning to
+lead the way through the undergrowth.
+
+“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.
+
+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?
+
+Lanky, Buster, Paul and Ralph were starting through the brush and had
+gotten twenty or thirty feet from the boat before Frank followed.
+
+“Psst!” came a sound from the leader of the Indian file, and Lanky
+signaled back to Frank to come forward.
+
+“There’s a house and a barn, and here’s a path leading to them!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+“Let’s sneak up there and see what is the lie of the land,” murmured
+Lanky, ready to proceed at a signal from Frank.
+
+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.
+
+“What’s the matter, Frank? Don’t you think this is the right place?
+There is the boat——”
+
+“We—ll, all right, let’s see what we see. Let’s go along mighty
+carefully. Don’t disturb anything.”
+
+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.
+
+The sun was slanted down toward the west, indicating midafternoon of
+a bright summer’s day.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Lanky, in the lead, came to a halt, holding his hand up in quick
+signal.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“That’s the man who was rowing that boat!” he exclaimed whisperingly
+to Frank.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Gradually the door was closed, and the boys plainly heard the hook as
+it was brought into place.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+The other boys, stooping and watching with eyes that strained
+and ears that were sharply set for every sound, waited for any
+eventualities. Second after second passed away, but nothing of
+untoward significance came to their ears.
+
+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.
+
+Stealthily opening the door and fastening it from the inside again,
+he peered around the barn, accustoming his eyes to the semi-darkness.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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 notion he could arrange in his mind, Frank heard the stealthy
+tread again, as if the man were approaching the loft ladder.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Frank’s face lighted with a merry smile as he thought of his own
+predicament—inside the barn with the rear door locked from the inside!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+He signaled to them to keep back. Lanky was watching Jed Marmette as
+he made his way toward the farmhouse.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Let’s follow and see what he does with it.”
+
+“All right. Get him located, and we’ll follow.”
+
+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.
+
+Along the weedy pathway the two boys ran as quickly as stealth
+permitted, now and then peering 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.
+
+“You stay right here and I’ll sneak as near as I can. If I need any
+help, come quickly.”
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+Here Frank laid a new scheme of exploration, and took Lanky with him
+while the other boys, Paul, Buster and Ralph, watched.
+
+Into the rear of the barn, up the ladder to the loft, and then a
+search. Frank led, for he felt he knew where the sounds had been
+made—and success was his at once.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+STOPPED BY THE HAND OF FATE
+
+
+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.
+
+Lanky gasped in the utmost surprise, and looked at the many pieces
+with wide eyes.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket’s_ landing place.
+
+“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 _Rocket_ well into the
+river.
+
+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 _Rocket_ toward midstream, trying to get far enough
+to drift with the river’s current before starting the engine.
+
+Still not a word came from either of the two boys as to the
+happenings within that barn on Jed Marmette’s place.
+
+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.
+
+“Well?” Paul could hold himself no longer. “Please tell what you saw
+up in the barn! You must have seen something of interest or you
+wouldn’t be so quiet.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“And all the Parsons’ stuff is in that chest?” Paul asked the
+question.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Why do you suppose he buried it?” again Paul queried.
+
+“Hump——”
+
+“Do you think he was putting it there so that no one would find it
+in case they were discovered?”
+
+“I certainly do not!” spoke up Lanky Wallace.
+
+“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.”
+
+“But, suppose Jed goes to jail?” asked Paul.
+
+“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.
+
+“Why kid me?” Paul stuck to his questioning.
+
+“Oh, listen to him! Say, Mr. President, we’ll have to call this
+operative. He’s a mess!”
+
+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?
+
+“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?”
+
+Paul said nothing more, yet they had not answered 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.
+
+Quietly the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Sure,” agreed Wallace instantly.
+
+“Next, you remember they dropped a large box of some kind off the
+_Speedaway_ when I swerved and struck them aft.”
+
+“Yes,” again agreed Lanky. “And it’s my impression the box they
+dropped off the _Speedaway_ 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.”
+
+“I’ve just been wondering if that is true.”
+
+Again silence reigned on the _Rocket_.
+
+Frank called for the lights, which Lanky attended to without further
+ado. The sun’s rays had passed out below the horizon, the day was
+coming to an end, and the boys were getting toward home in the
+beautiful hour of twilight.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+But, if this was done, what would be the result?
+
+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.
+
+On the other hand, if some plan were worked out by which the actual
+thieves could be caught removing 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.
+
+Certainly, the locating of the thieves was the way to proceed. But
+how do it?
+
+Could they expect help from the police department?
+
+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?
+
+The distant lights of the town were coming into sight as the _Rocket_
+made the last bend in the river when Lanky finally broke the silence
+which had fallen upon the lads.
+
+“What shall we do, Frank? Shall we go to the chief or shall we follow
+this thing out ourselves?”
+
+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.
+
+“It seems the only thing we can do, Lanky. If we keep this knowledge
+to ourselves we are apt, in some unforeseen manner, to find
+ourselves in a tight box.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+The other boys nodded their assent to this statement.
+
+“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?”
+
+No one replied; they waited for Frank to reply to his own question.
+
+“Simply because we were selfish, thoughtful only of our own
+reputations. That’s rough, but it’s true, isn’t it?”
+
+“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.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+It being agreed among them, no other course suggesting itself to any
+of them, they fell silent while the _Rocket_ headed straight for its
+boat-house on the Harrapin.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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 off, and the day was done in so far as the
+motor boat was concerned.
+
+“Now, it’s up to the chief’s office for us, and if he isn’t there
+we’ll have to find him.”
+
+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.
+
+Stopping along the street to pass remarks with other boys of their
+acquaintance, answering questions about the speed of the _Rocket_,
+they found themselves a few blocks nearer to the large brick
+structure without having attracted any undue attention.
+
+This, though unplanned, was the best way to proceed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Just then one of the attendants at the hospital came rushing up,
+touched Frank on the shoulder and whispered:
+
+“Come to the hospital quickly. The doctor wants you.”
+
+Before Frank could ask questions, before he could get any
+information, the attendant was gone.
+
+Frank turned and dashed for the hospital at full speed, all of the
+other boys right behind him.
+
+Not waiting to reach the gate, Frank vaulted the fence and raced for
+the building. Just inside stood the doctor.
+
+“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!”
+
+Frank stood dazed for a moment.
+
+“Tell the druggist I’m coming!” he cried, turning to the door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+RACING FOR A LIFE
+
+
+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.
+
+“It’s life or death!” resounded in his ears as he turned to run out
+of the hospital.
+
+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.
+
+“It’s life or death!”
+
+The words were thundered at him by an inner consciousness, literally
+throbbing in his mind.
+
+“Frank, can we go with you? We are going. Tell us what to do and
+we’ll do it!” From Lanky came the words, quiet, meaningful, the
+words of a friend ready to help in a crisis.
+
+“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.
+
+“You come along slowly. Don’t run. Take your time. I’ll have the
+_Rocket_ 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.
+
+The words of Lanky Wallace galvanized all of them into action. He had
+thought of the thing to do—prepare the _Rocket_ for the trip, and he
+alone had started toward the river to attend to the duty of getting
+the boat out of the house.
+
+Just as the other boys started for the door a girlish figure came
+in—Minnie Cuthbert.
+
+“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!”
+
+“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 _Rocket_ down. I’m going now to get it.”
+
+They looked fairly into each other’s eyes, this girl whose
+attractiveness held Frank in its grip, and this one boy who had been
+the magnet for most of the attention of Minnie Cuthbert.
+
+“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.”
+
+“There isn’t a thing you can do—now—Minnie. God and the doctor have
+put everything into my hands. The _Rocket_ 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
+_Rocket_ out. I’m going now—every minute means something. The doctor
+says it’s life or death.”
+
+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 _Speedaway_—was now called into action by the
+Fates to race against the greatest contestant in the activities of
+life—Death.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“There isn’t a minute to spare!” he said, his cap thrown to his head.
+“It’s life or death!”
+
+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 _Rocket_, ready for the race.
+
+“Hey! Hey!” came a cry from the crossing of Fourth Street as the boys
+tore at full speed to the river.
+
+“Frank! Frank Allen!” came the cry.
+
+All three of the boys halted almost instantly, for the loud cry came
+from one who seemed to call for a purpose.
+
+It was Chief Berry, hurrying around the corner. He beckoned to Frank.
+
+“Frank, it is my very sad duty to say to you that you must come to
+my office at once. I want you to explain something which has just
+been brought to my attention.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“I cannot help it—you’ve got to come to my office!” sternly announced
+the officer of the law.
+
+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.
+
+“Wait a minute, young man!” exclaimed the officer of the law. “I say
+you must come to my office with me at once.”
+
+“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.
+
+“I’ll place you under arrest!”
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank Allen, determined, knowing only one duty in the whole world,
+and the chief of police, knowing 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.
+
+Racing to the boat-house, putting every ounce of his strength into
+the legs which carried him to the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+It was only after he leaped aboard the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+Though the words of the chief of police puzzled 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 _Rocket_ and himself.
+
+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 _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+Faster and faster went the _Rocket_. 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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ on its way, having every foot of speed the
+engine could give.
+
+No word passed between the boys. The two forward gasped now and then
+as a rush of air suddenly shot down their open mouths.
+
+Ahead of them loomed a broad raft of logs, and Paul turned his head
+involuntarily to signal or to call to Frank.
+
+But the searchlight had picked it up and Frank held the _Rocket_ far
+enough over to make around one end of the raft without lessing speed.
+
+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?
+
+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?
+
+Would this race be a futile one? Was the fast-moving specter of Death
+to win this contest?
+
+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 what
+they would have to face if he, Frank, did not get the drug back in
+time.
+
+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!
+
+Frank’s involuntary effort was to push on the wheel, to urge, to
+force the _Rocket_ 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!
+
+He leaned over to see that everything exterior was functioning
+properly.
+
+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.
+
+“Wow! Where are ye goin’ in such a hurry?” came a yell from aft of
+the tug as the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Paul and Ralph released their holds to wipe the spray from their eyes.
+
+Just at this moment something came up the river from the port side,
+long and slim, running directly across the path of the _Rocket_!
+
+The searchlight was shooting a little high, and its rays were cast
+upward instead of along the surface of the river.
+
+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.
+
+Frank saw two ends of it—recognized they were running squarely into
+the midships of a launch which was crossing their path slowly!
+
+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!
+
+Frank threw the _Rocket’s_ nose far over, the rudder acted instantly,
+the _Rocket_ careened, and Paul Bird went tumbling into the river.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+WILL THE RACE BE LOST?
+
+
+Ralph West hung to the tie-hook at the bow with all his might and
+main, and succeeded in staying on the _Rocket_.
+
+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.
+
+But Frank needed no cry, nor warning, to tell him what had happened.
+As he threw the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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?
+
+There was no time to look around. No time to go into reverse, for he
+would first have to check speed forward. No time to throw a lifeline
+or a belt. It was swifter, surer action that was demanded at this
+moment.
+
+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.
+
+Holding the wheel hard over, Frank sent the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+During this narrow circle, with centrifugal force tending to cast
+Ralph West off the bow of the _Rocket_, Lanky Wallace was holding
+tight to the gunwale, stooping low in an effort to keep his center of
+gravity close to the boat.
+
+As the _Rocket_ 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!
+
+“Paul! Paul! Are you all right?” yelled Frank as soon as he realized
+that his chance of seeing the boy was gone.
+
+“Here!” came a voice from the water, and Frank got the propeller into
+reverse, churning the Harrapin into a wild foam in order not to
+go past the point and also in order that he might not run down his
+friend.
+
+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.
+
+“Wow! Some wetting!” he gasped.
+
+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 _Rocket_ which averted the
+collision.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_Rocket_ to see that the lights were in order.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Frank put the propeller into gear again with the engine, and the
+_Rocket_ 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.
+
+As the _Rocket_ regained its speed, Frank carefully wiped the surface
+of the river clean with the bright 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.
+
+“Hope that delay won’t cost too much,” breathed Frank through gritted
+teeth as he firmly grasped the wheel and held the _Rocket_ down the
+center of the river.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“How long have we been coming? How far are we?” asked Lanky.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Don’t let that worry you, Frank,” replied Lanky reassuringly. “The
+_Rocket’s_ showing what’s in her. We’ll get back in nothing flat.”
+
+It was quite true that the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Time brings about a healing influence, and time also brings about a
+lack of watchfulness. Just so it was this night.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Like a huge mountain there suddenly loomed from out of the darkness a
+great bulk which blocked their path!
+
+“Look out!” yelled Lanky, as the thing came into sight.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The _Rocket’s_ 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.
+
+“Hi, there!” called a heavy voice from the wheel-room of the tug.
+“What’s down there? Why not a signal?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+There was a heartiness about the voice that was reassuring to the
+boys on the _Rocket’s_ deck—the heartiness that is so often met among
+sea-faring men.
+
+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.
+
+Then Frank got the _Rocket_ under way again, and was soon well
+past the obstacle, past the hairpin bend of the river, and headed
+downstream again toward Coville.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Fifteen minutes more of steady running of the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+It was the druggist with the package for the doctor at the hospital
+in Columbia.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Lanky reached out for the packages as the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“Gee, that was good of him,” Paul was munching on one of the
+sandwiches, the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Mile after mile slipped from under them, Frank’s grip on the wheel
+sure and steady, while Paul and Ralph lay back and went to sleep.
+Lanky, though, was alert to every movement of the boat.
+
+“Here’s where we passed that boat, about,” he muttered to Frank, when
+it seemed that many, many hours had passed.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+SCHEMING VOICES IN THE NIGHT
+
+
+“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.
+
+“Out of gas!” muttered Frank, though his reply was mechanical. He was
+already thinking hard as to what they should do.
+
+“Out of gas?” echoed the tall youth. “Oh, Frank, are you sure?”
+
+“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.
+
+The momentum of the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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, 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.”
+
+Already Frank was turning the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Lanky grasped the oar, as he had been bidden, and began using it to
+good effect, aiding the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+Ahead of him, since his eyes had become somewhat accustomed to the
+night-lights of the river, 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.
+
+The other boys, Paul and Ralph, were not conscious of any trouble,
+sleeping soundly on the small after deck.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Now came the problem in Frank’s mind of making a landing safely
+without bumping into other boats or without putting the _Rocket_
+against the landing with too much force, nose first.
+
+“Lanky! Quick! Get forward with your oar. 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!”
+
+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 _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket’s_ speed slowed down.
+
+Bump! It was only slight, not enough to do damage to the bow of the
+boat, but it awoke the sleeping Paul and Ralph.
+
+“What’s the matter?” cried Paul, rubbing his eyes and tried to locate
+himself. “Are we back in town?”
+
+“No, just at the island where we had that accident. Out of gas and
+trying to find some,” muttered Lanky Wallace.
+
+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 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?
+
+All four of the boys stepped to the landing, Lanky taking the end of
+the rope to make it fast to the tie-stake.
+
+“What’s the first move? Where do we find gas?” Paul asked.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Lanky Wallace started in one direction along the boat landing and
+Frank in the other.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Frank Allen stopped. Three men were there, he felt quite certain,
+though the others were but shadows dimly limned by the match’s glow.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The three men had become two. One of them had disappeared as another
+match lighted up the little area only a few yards away.
+
+“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.
+
+Forgotten for the moment was all thought of his errand, his quest for
+the necessary gasoline to get him back to Columbia.
+
+Not that he was forgetful of the duty owing to 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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+But that question was very soon answered. It seemed, and Frank often
+thought of it afterward, that all the Fates combined at this eerie
+hour of night to help him.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+A five-gallon can of gasoline aboard that boat!
+
+The thought struck Frank fairly in the middle of the brain, and he
+wondered whether it might be possible to get it.
+
+Just then the Fates stepped in.
+
+“Let’s walk along and see if we can help,” one of the men suggested.
+
+With this the two walked quietly away from Frank toward the center of
+the island.
+
+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?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+RACING BACK TO HIS FATHER
+
+
+In Frank’s mind there was no idea of theft. Just as he asked Lanky
+Wallace to do, he now did.
+
+When these two men had calmly and slowly sauntered away from the
+trees, Frank stole silently to the boat and climbed aboard.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Frank knew also that both of them, chums, were making their separate
+ways back to the boat, each with the needed fuel.
+
+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.
+
+Not resting a single time, he made his way back to the _Rocket_,
+moving swiftly, surely, as he recalled every step of the way along
+the wharf.
+
+Back at the _Rocket_ he found Paul Bird and Ralph West, each on the
+_qui vive_, 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.
+
+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.
+
+“Got a can of gas!” he muttered, an optimistic tone in his voice as
+Frank told the news to the waiting boys.
+
+“Did you whistle?” asked Paul.
+
+“No. That must have been Lanky. He’ll be along in a minute with
+another,” replied Frank.
+
+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!
+
+When Frank saw Lanky and Lanky saw Frank they each fell to chuckling.
+But Frank had the better of it.
+
+They hurried in their efforts and poured both cans into the gas tank
+aboard the _Rocket_—Lanky’s much-rehearsed duty of pushing off from
+land or wharf then became necessary, and the _Rocket_ moved out from
+the landing at the island.
+
+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.
+
+Frank alone knew that a race was on between the two craft. One of
+them had to win!
+
+“What is that boat?” asked Paul Bird.
+
+“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.
+
+“How about fixing our searchlight before we get going?” asked Lanky.
+“We’ll need it to make any speed.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Suiting the action to the word, Frank turned the _Rocket_ as he
+backed away from the landing, and soon was headed up the Harrapin.
+
+It was slow work, while Lanky and Paul worked on the connections at
+the light.
+
+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 _Rocket_ 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.
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Immediately Frank gave the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Ahead of them, its beams darting here and there, 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Instantly the three boys were alert with interest.
+
+“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.”
+
+Nothing that Frank might have said could have brought to all three of
+the boys a greater shock of surprise than this.
+
+They started to ask questions, but he stopped them:
+
+“Wait a minute. Don’t be so fast with the questions. I’ll tell you
+all about it.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“But suppose—” started Lanky.
+
+“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 _Rocket_ yourselves. Lanky knows exactly where
+the place is, and you’ll have to depend on Lanky’s ability to run the
+_Rocket_.”
+
+“But, Frank,” asked Paul Bird, “what boat was that at the island—the
+one that’s ahead of us?”
+
+“The one from which I got the gasoline,” Frank answered, though his
+tone was a noncommittal one.
+
+“Don’t you know what the boat’s name is?” Paul continued.
+
+“It bore a mighty strong resemblance to the _Speedaway_,” came the
+low-spoken words from Frank.
+
+“The _Speedaway_!” All three of the boys muttered the word at the
+same time.
+
+“I said it very much resembled the _Speedaway_. 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.”
+
+“But,” urged Paul, “that is Fred Cunningham’s boat, and you did not
+say you saw him!”
+
+“I didn’t,” Frank held back from making any accusation 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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+All stood in silence while Frank held the wheel of the _Rocket_
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_. Not for a moment did
+he consider the idea that the _Speedaway_, if that were the boat,
+could outdistance the _Rocket_. Frank Allen considered that the men
+ahead of him were merely the same distance ahead as at the start.
+
+“I wonder if that is the boat which crossed our path and caused Paul
+to go over,” remarked Ralph.
+
+“If it is, I want to catch the fellows that are in it and duck all of
+them,” Paul replied.
+
+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.
+
+“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 _Rocket_ will see them through. And I wish Paul and Ralph
+would find some gasoline and fill up the tank.”
+
+The boys agreed at once to this program.
+
+“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.
+
+As they neared the landing place at Columbia Frank cut off the
+engine, relying on its momentum to send the _Rocket_ to the
+boat-house, so that he could listen for the exhaust of the boat ahead
+of them.
+
+“That’s it!” cried Lanky, as all the boys plainly heard the steady
+put-put of an exhaust ahead of them up the river.
+
+“We’ve come along behind them,” Frank said quietly. “The _Rocket_
+must be a pretty speedy boat, after all.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Is he all right?” gasped Frank.
+
+“All right, Frank. We need this stimulant badly, but we’ve held him
+steady while you were gone. You made a quick trip.”
+
+“I thought we would never get back here! We had trouble.”
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“He’s winning.” He spoke very quietly.
+
+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.
+
+“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 getting that stimulant in time,” the doctor spoke in low tones.
+“Run along now and get a rest.”
+
+“Yes, go home by all means, and get a good sleep,” said Mrs. Allen.
+
+“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!”
+
+Frank walked slowly out of the room into the hall and down the long
+flight of steps to the first floor.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+He had the police! They were on their way to the _Rocket_! 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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE LOOT AND THE LOOTERS
+
+
+“Is there plenty of gas?” he asked as he leaped on the deck of the
+_Rocket_, addressing himself to Paul and Ralph.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“Good!” shouted Lanky.
+
+In another moment, with the police chief and his men aboard, the four
+boys got the _Rocket_ out into the stream, turned its nose against
+the current, and started away.
+
+“Now, Allen,” the chief edged over close to the 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.”
+
+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 _Rocket_ around and
+going at a better speed.
+
+“They’re ahead of us only so much as the time since we landed—how
+long has that been, fellows?” he asked the boys.
+
+“A little more than half an hour. Time has been going slow, all
+right, but things have been going fast.”
+
+Lanky had peered at his wrist watch before replying.
+
+“That’s long enough to put them up at Jed Marmette’s place,” Frank
+muttered, while the bow of the _Rocket_ 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.”
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+“Have you any idea who the men are?” asked the chief, when Frank had
+finished the story.
+
+“I haven’t the slightest, Mr. Berry. The only thing that I am
+guessing at is that the _Speedaway_ is the boat that left the island
+to-night and went up ahead of us.”
+
+“What about Fred Cunningham? Did you see him? Is he on the
+_Speedaway_? Surely, he is not mixed up in this thing!” and the chief
+of police showed his surprise.
+
+“No, I did not see Cunningham. I don’t know who is running the boat,
+and I am not sure it is the _Speedaway_. 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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ as it slipped its best along the Harrapin
+River.
+
+“I am trying to picture this whole thing over again. Will you tell me
+why you went back to the Parsons place?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“Why didn’t you tell me these things at the hearing?” asked the chief.
+
+“Because I wanted to tell what I knew and not what I was guessing at.
+Also, chief, don’t you remember that you practically accused Lanky
+and me of having a hand in the robbery?”
+
+The chief did not make answer to this.
+
+“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?”
+
+The chief was standing at the cockpit, saying nothing while Frank
+continued to pour out his thoughts.
+
+“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.”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+“I guess that part is right.” The chief spoke for the first time in
+several minutes.
+
+“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.”
+
+The chief started noticeably.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+“There’s the place!” Lanky called out in a hoarse whisper. “Shall I
+keep the spotlight open or shut it off?”
+
+Frank peered far over the wheel and they saw they had reached the
+island where the willows grew so far over the river.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Frank reduced the speed of the _Rocket_, 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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ touched at a firm
+spot.
+
+All crawled off the craft and made their way up to the bank through
+the bushes. They were about a hundred yards below the flicker of
+light which they could see moving toward the bank.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Now they were close enough to hear angry words passing between men,
+but not plainly enough to give them an understanding.
+
+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.
+
+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 leading, never having stopped his advance upon
+these men.
+
+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!
+
+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!
+
+“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.”
+
+“I told you I don’t know anything about no box,” sullenly replied the
+man in the center.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“You know that the chest was not in that place 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.
+
+Again the prisoner said he knew nothing of the box.
+
+“All right then, bo, we’ll see what we can do about it,” and he, too,
+set his suitcase on the ground.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The chief made no attempt to regain the silver which was in all
+probability in the three suitcases.
+
+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.
+
+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 of this conversation could be used against the
+thieves when the trial came.
+
+“Now, Jed, we’ll give you one more chance. When we leave here you’ve
+got no more than a Chinaman’s chance.”
+
+“I don’t know a thing about where that box is,” gruffly, morosely
+came the answer from the prisoner.
+
+“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.
+
+But Jed was quiet this time.
+
+“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.”
+
+Every one waited for the man to reply, which he did:
+
+“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!”
+
+He was accusing Frank Allen of getting the jewels!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE _ROCKET_ RACES THE _SPEEDAWAY_
+
+
+Lanky Wallace made a move as if would leap out and throttle the
+fellow for making such an accusation.
+
+Frank’s arm restrained him, though, and the chief of police quickly
+signaled for all of them to be quiet.
+
+“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.”
+
+The leader of the little gang spoke menacingly to the prisoner. There
+was no answer from Jed Marmette, and he continued:
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+“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!”
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+“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?”
+
+The leader was preparing to settle matters for Jed Marmette.
+
+“Throw up your hands—all of you!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Halt! Stand where you are or I’ll fire!” commanded Chief Berry. The
+fellow stood still. “Now, get your hands up, all of you!”
+
+This command was obeyed.
+
+“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.
+
+“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!”
+
+“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.
+
+Immediately the four boys started along the trail leading to the
+barn, through the barnyard, and thence up toward the grape arbor by
+the dilapidated old farmhouse. The flashlight helped them on the way.
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+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!
+
+Frank started the work post haste.
+
+“Paul, you and Ralph pull that flagstone aside. There is a new hole
+right there and the box is in there.”
+
+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.
+
+“You can’t get it away quickly enough that way. The hole is deep.
+Lanky, find a spade or a stick of wood.”
+
+In only a moment or two Lanky Wallace found a sharp stick that could
+be used for the purpose, and went at the work of uncovering the metal
+box with a willing vim.
+
+Pound after pound of the soft earth came out of the hole, but there
+was no evidence of the box containing the jewels.
+
+Frank was becoming nervous with the excitement of this search, and,
+particularly, because there was as yet no indication of success.
+
+“Push the stick straight down to see how far it goes before it
+strikes the box!” he hoarsely called to the boys.
+
+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.
+
+“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!”
+
+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 placed it in some other
+spot after they had gone.
+
+The three boys looked askance at Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+All four of the boys stood, rather breathless, at the doorway and
+peered in.
+
+“What’s that?” Frank nodded his head toward the broad, old-fashioned
+fireplace. “Go over there and see what those ashes are. It looks to
+me like burned string lying there.”
+
+Lanky was the first to get there. He knelt and studied the hearth
+closely, not disturbing anything with his hands.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Yep, look here!” It was Paul Bird who had found something else.
+“Here is a little fresh earth, yellow, too!”
+
+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!
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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 box somewhere in the house, so that he could guard it
+more closely.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The search was getting nowhere, excepting failure.
+
+“Let’s look in the stove,” said Lanky Wallace, as he reached for the
+lid-lifter and started to raise part of the top.
+
+“That gives me an idea!” cried Frank, wheeling on his heel and
+looking toward the bedroom which was now dark.
+
+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?
+
+“That box was black. All such document boxes are black—they are made
+of thin iron and are japanned, as they call it.”
+
+Frank was starting the disclosure of his idea by setting down a
+premise on which to work logically to his conclusion.
+
+“Now, if it is black, then the logical place to hide it is where
+everything else is black. Is that right?”
+
+“Up the flue!” exclaimed Lanky Wallace happily.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+He remembered seeing an old case-knife on the kitchen table, and one
+of the boys brought it quickly.
+
+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!
+
+They had expected this—yet they gasped in surprise and delight.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The flashlight darted hither and yon as the four boys found the trail
+and started for the barnyard.
+
+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!
+
+All was quiet for a moment, then they heard the call of one man.
+
+“Halt! Halt, or I’ll kill!”
+
+Another crack of a weapon tore through the air.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+“What’s the matter? Who is it?” cried Frank.
+
+“It’s Fred Cunningham! He was the third one. He got away and is on
+that motor boat!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+WHEN THE _ROCKET_ SHOWED HER SPEED
+
+
+It was the _Speedaway_! 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!
+
+Out into the stream the _Speedaway_ was moving, the engine running in
+excellent shape.
+
+“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!”
+
+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 _Rocket_
+was tied.
+
+Out on the river they could plainly hear the put-put of an exhaust.
+They reached the _Rocket_. Frank stopped a moment to listen.
+
+“He’s going downstream, chief. If I catch him I’ll take him to the
+jail. But how shall we get you?”
+
+“Send some one back here to get us,” replied the chief sharply, as he
+urged the boys to get aboard and start quickly.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+It was when he reached to take the flywheel that he laid down the
+package which he had been carrying.
+
+“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!”
+
+“Fine work, lad! Good luck to you! Catch that fellow and we’ve done a
+good day’s work!” called back Chief Berry.
+
+Lanky had the searchlight going in another second, flooding the
+river’s surface in front of them.
+
+Downstream they started, skirting past the island on the bank side
+instead of going around it, thus saving some distance.
+
+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 _Speedaway_ caused Frank to raise a
+question as to whether they might miss the wily fellow in front.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+It was not a meandering or shambling or loitering gait that the
+_Rocket_ 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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ to
+skim and glide along the Harrapin at the fastest rate of speed it had
+ever made.
+
+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.
+
+“See him?” asked Frank of Lanky, as that long lad twisted the
+searchlight from side to side.
+
+“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.”
+
+Just at this moment Frank cut off the motor. All was silent on the
+_Rocket_. From far ahead of them came the steady, rapidly firing
+put-put of the _Speedaway_! 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 by the drug. Then came a brief thanksgiving that his
+mother had reached home.
+
+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?
+
+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?
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+After all, was the lighting of the match on the river a signal?
+
+“Stop the motor again and see if we can hear him,” Lanky interrupted
+Frank’s thoughts.
+
+Frank cut off the engine, and from a distance down the river came the
+sound of the exhaust from the _Speedaway_. Instantly the engine was
+started again.
+
+“Was it closer this time?” asked Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Well, he ran upriver without lights,” replied Frank. “I wondered
+while we were coming up behind him to-night how he was doing it.”
+
+There was no way to increase speed. The engine was doing its utmost.
+There was only one way to gain—except that the _Rocket_ might be
+faster than the _Speedaway_—and that was to beat Cunningham at
+maneuvering.
+
+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.
+
+Standing steadfastly at the wheel, his entire being now put into this
+purpose of catching the man on the _Speedaway_, Frank Allen cut off
+every inch in the bends and around the islands that could possibly be
+cut.
+
+“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.
+
+“Can’t—right now.” Frank smiled as the spirit of this race seized
+full control of him. He was determined, more than ever, to catch the
+_Speedaway_!
+
+Taking a long chance at losing some of the space that he felt he had
+gained, he suddenly cut off the engine and listened.
+
+They were nearer! They were gaining rapidly! There was no doubt of it
+now.
+
+The lights of Columbia came in sight on the far side of the river.
+Their engine was running full tilt and the _Rocket_ was bounding
+forward like a smoothly running race-horse.
+
+“We’ll catch him right in front of the town!” called Lanky Wallace as
+he swung the searchlight about the river.
+
+“Hope so. It’ll make things easy. But maybe he has a gun,” suggested
+Frank.
+
+“Couldn’t have, unless it was on the boat. The chief’s men disarmed
+them,” laconically replied Lanky.
+
+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 _Speedaway_ ahead of them, though they knew it must be
+close.
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank was once again making a short cut on the 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 _Rocket_ close up, and Lanky can take the tie line with him to
+tie him.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+Cunningham was peering back over his shoulder as the searchlight from
+the _Rocket_ lighted that part of the river.
+
+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.
+
+Lanky shot the search behind him.
+
+“Look out!” Frank fairly screamed as he saw a tremendous obstacle
+loom in front of the _Speedaway_, less than fifteen feet away—too
+close to permit the helmsman to again maneuver his boat.
+
+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.
+
+So exciting had been the chase that neither Fred 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.
+
+Crash! There was nothing else to be expected! Into the side of the
+big barge went the _Speedaway_, full power ahead!
+
+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
+_Rocket_.
+
+The bow of the _Speedaway_ telescoped as if a giant were squeezing
+down on it, and the stern dipped deeply into the stream.
+
+There was a flash of light for a second, then the gasoline tank
+exploded, spreading gasoline to all parts of the water.
+
+The _Rocket_, being far enough to the rear, could be properly
+maneuvered to avoid a repetition of such an accident.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Speedaway_ against the barge.
+
+The three boys watched closely as Lanky Wallace turned the
+searchlight from point to point, seeking to find the wreck.
+
+Débris was scattered over all parts of the rapidly flowing Harrapin.
+
+“Where is Cunningham?” asked Paul Bird.
+
+The wreck of the _Speedaway_ was slowly settling into the river as
+the water rushed into it and the weight of the engine helped to drag
+it down.
+
+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.
+
+Suddenly a head bobbed up out of the water. It was Fred Cunningham!
+There was a faint cry for help, and he sank again.
+
+“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.
+
+Splash! Over the side of the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+WHEN ALL ENDS WELL
+
+
+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.
+
+The explosion of the tank had spread blazing gasoline over the
+surface of the river; the wreck of the _Speedaway_ 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.
+
+Men aboard the barge were yelling and calling warnings and
+suggestions and the searchlight of the _Rocket_ danced about the
+water as Lanky tried to compensate for the failure of Paul Bird, not
+very expert at the wheel, to hold the _Rocket_ where it belonged.
+
+Down into the river went the intrepid boy, bent on bringing
+Cunningham to the surface if possible—and determined that it was
+possible.
+
+It seemed hours to the three boys on the _Rocket_ before they spied
+Frank’s head on the surface, bobbing suddenly from the water, and saw
+that he was tugging at a heavy load.
+
+“Here, Ralph! You take the searchlight! Keep it squarely on Frank and
+I’ll get the boat over!”
+
+Lanky got Ralph West into active service, and, as he felt he could
+handle the _Rocket_ better than Paul Bird was doing, he took hold of
+the wheel and brought the _Rocket_ around to the spot where Frank
+struggled to keep himself above water and hold the other at the same
+time.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“Let’s try to save him,” gasped Frank, unmindful of his own condition.
+
+A cry went up from the barge when they pulled the two boys over to
+the deck of the _Rocket_, and now the skipper of the towboat yelled:
+
+“Ahoy there! Can I help you any? Is he all right, or can you get him
+over to town?”
+
+“I’ll attend to him. Thank you ever so much!” called Frank, as
+three of the boys turned their attention to the injured lad. Lanky
+had already started the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Frank gave instructions to the others at once, with a snap like an
+officer, and they went to work with vim.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Into an automobile the boys placed Cunningham’s limp body quickly,
+Frank giving directions:
+
+“Get him to the hospital! Quick! Don’t waste a minute!”
+
+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.
+
+“I’m going back for the chief. You fellows want to come along?” he
+asked.
+
+The question was almost unnecessary. Lanky 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Before the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Just as the sun broke through the far horizon and shot its first
+shafts of light into the world, the _Rocket_ got away from the
+landing at Columbia and started back to the Jed Marmette farm.
+
+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 principal ones were over except for Frank’s father,
+and the boys fell to chatting gaily while they raced the _Rocket_
+upstream as rapidly as the engine would take it.
+
+“Frank,” said Lanky, as they had gained their full speed and stood
+looking ahead of them along the river, “the _Rocket_ is a better boat
+than the _Speedaway_.”
+
+“Right now, you mean?” laughed Frank.
+
+“No, I mean she always was. She gained on the _Speedaway_ to-night in
+straight running.”
+
+“Not to-night.” Frank felt in a teasing humor.
+
+“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.”
+
+Full daylight was upon them as they made the landing at the Marmette
+place.
+
+“Did you catch him? I know you did!” called the chief as the _Rocket_
+warped into the shore.
+
+“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!”
+
+The chief had to hear the entire story before he brought his charges
+on board, which was done very shortly.
+
+The two strangers and Jed Marmette were led aboard, their arms
+pinioned and locked with handcuffs.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“What’s all the crowd about? Some one hurt?” asked Chief Berry,
+pointing to the throng that had gathered at the river in Columbia.
+
+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 _Rocket_, 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.
+
+“What’s it all about?” asked Frank.
+
+“Sounds as if they’re cheering this boat for some reason.” The chief
+seemed to understand.
+
+“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.
+
+Frank brought the _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket_
+slipped in easily, seeming still to have the same go and pep that it
+had in the beginning.
+
+“She doesn’t seem to be a bit tired,” said Frank.
+
+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.”
+
+“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.
+
+Instantly they were seized by friends in the crowd, and a thousand
+questions of all kinds were shot at them.
+
+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:
+
+“Doctor, how’s dad? Any good news this morning?”
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“You’re a real hero! I’m so glad you did all those things they tell
+about you,” she exclaimed, her eyes shining brightly.
+
+“Who tells about me?” asked Frank.
+
+“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.
+
+So that was what caused this crowd to be here!
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“There’s Mrs. Parsons. She’s trying to attract your attention.”
+Minnie nudged Frank and nodded toward the street, where an
+automobile was moving slowly along.
+
+Looking that way, he could not help but see the excited beckonings of
+the wealthy widow up the river, who had been robbed.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“And that’s the way all of us feel,” spoke up Lanky.
+
+“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?”
+
+“Surely! We’ll make it day after to-morrow, too!” cried the young
+lady.
+
+“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 a nod to the driver
+of her car and waved the young people a happy good-bye.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+The New Western Series
+
+Exciting, Thrilling Stories of the Old West
+
+
+  TEXAS MEN AND TEXAS CATTLE                E. E. Harriman
+  THE SCOURGE OF THE LITTLE “C”            J. E. Grinstead
+  THE LONE HAND TRACKER                  William W. Winter
+  WHEN DEATH RODE THE RANGE              William W. Winter
+  RAW GOLD                                       Clem Yore
+  DON QUICKSHOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE       Stephen Chalmers
+  THE LAST SHOT                      William MacLeod Raine
+  STRAIGHT SHOOTING                           W. C. Tuttle
+  SAD SONTAG PLAYS HIS HUNCH                  W. C. Tuttle
+  THE SENTENCE OF THE SIX GUN               Anthony M. Rud
+  THE OUTLAWS OF FLOWER-POT CANYON      Frank C. Robertson
+  THE CLEAN-UP ON DEAD MAN              Frank C. Robertson
+  THE MASTER SQUATTER                      J. E. Grinstead
+  SIX GUN QUARANTINE                        E. E. Harriman
+  THE VALLEY OF SUSPICION                      J. U. Giesy
+  TREASURE TRAIL                     Robert Russell Strang
+  MOUNTAIN MEN                               Ernest Haycox
+  BATTLING HERDS                              W. C. Tuttle
+  HOSTAGES OF HATE                          Anthony M. Rud
+  TAKE-A-CHANCE TAMERLANE                 Stephen Chalmers
+  HASKELL OF THE DUG-OUT HILLS          Frank C. Robertson
+  GUNPOWDER VALLEY                         Murray Leinster
+  RUSTLERS’ RANGE                          George C. Shedd
+  TROUBLE TRAIL                                  Clem Yore
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._
+  Garden City       New York
+
+
+
+
+The Movie Boys Series
+
+_By_ VICTOR APPLETON
+
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS ON CALL,
+    or Filming the Perils of A Great City.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE WILD WEST,
+    or Stirring Days Among the Cowboys and Indians.
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE WRECKERS,
+    or Facing the Perils of the Deep.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE,
+    or Lively Times Among the Wild Beasts.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND,
+    or Filming Pictures and Strange Perils.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE FLOOD,
+    or Perilous Days on the Mighty Mississippi.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS IN PERIL,
+    or Strenuous Days Along the Panama Canal.
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER THE SEA,
+    or The Treasure of the Lost Ship.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER FIRE,
+    or The Search for the Stolen Film.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER UNCLE SAM,
+    or Taking Pictures for the Army.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS’ FIRST SHOWHOUSE,
+    or Fighting for a Foothold in Fairlands.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK,
+    or The Rival Photo Houses of the Boardwalk.
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS ON BROADWAY,
+    or The Mystery of the Missing Cash Box.
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS’ OUTDOOR EXHIBITION,
+    or the Film that Solved the Mystery.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS’ NEW IDEA,
+    or Getting the Best of Their Enemies.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS AT THE BIG FAIR,
+    or The Greatest Film Ever Exhibited.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS’ WAR SPECTACLE,
+    or The Film that Won the Prize.
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Co., _Inc._
+  Garden City         New York
+
+
+
+
+The Dave Fearless Series
+
+_By_ ROY ROCKWOOD
+
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AFTER A SUNKEN TREASURE,
+      or The Rival Ocean Divers
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS ON A FLOATING ISLAND,
+      or The Cruise of the Treasure Ship
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AND THE CAVE OF MYSTERY,
+      or Adrift on the Pacific
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE ICEBERGS,
+      or The Secret of the Eskimo Igloo
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS WRECKED AMONG SAVAGES,
+      or The Captives of the Head Hunters
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AND HIS BIG RAFT,
+      or Alone on the Broad Pacific
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS ON VOLCANO ISLAND,
+      or The Magic Cave of Blue Fire
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS CAPTURED BY APES,
+      or In Gorilla Land
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AND THE MUTINEERS,
+      or Prisoners on the Ship of Death
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS UNDER THE OCEAN,
+      or The Treasure of the Lost Submarine
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS IN THE BLACK JUNGLE,
+      or Lost Among the Cannibals
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS NEAR THE SOUTH POLE,
+      or The Giant Whales of Snow Island
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS CAUGHT BY MALAY PIRATES,
+      or The Secret of Bamboo Island
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS ON THE SHIP OF MYSTERY,
+      or The Strange Hermit of Shark Cove
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS ON THE LOST BRIG,
+      or Abandoned in the Big Hurricane
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AT WHIRLPOOL POINT,
+      or The Mystery of the Water Caves
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE CANNIBALS,
+      or The Defense of the Hut in the Swamp
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._
+  Garden City      New York
+
+
+
+
+The Larry Dexter Series
+
+_By_ RAYMOND SPERRY
+
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AT THE BIG FLOOD,
+      or The Perils of a Reporter
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE LAND SWINDLERS,
+      or Queer Adventures in a Great City
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE,
+      or The Great Search
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY,
+      or Exciting Days in Wall Street
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY,
+      or A Chase on the Great Lakes
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AT THE BATTLE FRONT,
+      or A War Correspondent’s Double Mission
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE WARD DIAMONDS,
+      or The Young Reporter at Sea Cliff
+
+  LARRY DEXTER’S GREAT CHASE,
+      or The Young Reporter Across the Continent
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._
+  Garden City      New York
+
+
+
+
+_The_
+
+FRANK ALLEN SERIES
+
+_By_ GRAHAM B. FORBES
+
+
+  FRANK ALLEN’S SCHOOLDAYS,
+      or The All Around Rivals of Columbia High
+
+  FRANK ALLEN PLAYING TO WIN,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Ice
+
+  FRANK ALLEN IN WINTER SPORTS,
+      or Columbia High on Skates and Iceboats
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AND HIS RIVALS,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics
+
+  FRANK ALLEN—PITCHER,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond
+
+  FRANK ALLEN—HEAD OF THE CREW,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High on the River
+
+  FRANK ALLEN IN CAMP,
+      or Columbia High and the School League Rivals
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AT ROCKSPUR RANCH,
+      or The Old Cowboy’s Secret
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AT GOLD FORK,
+      or Locating the Lost Claim
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTORBOAT,
+      or Racing to Save a Life
+
+  FRANK ALLEN CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AT OLD MOOSE LAKE,
+      or The Trail in the Snow
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AT ZERO CAMP,
+      or The Queer Old Man of the Hills
+
+  FRANK ALLEN SNOWBOUND,
+      or Fighting for Life in the Big Blizzard
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AFTER BIG GAME,
+      or With Guns and Snowshoes in the Rockies
+
+  FRANK ALLEN WITH THE CIRCUS,
+      or The Old Ringmaster’s Secret
+
+  FRANK ALLEN PITCHING HIS BEST,
+      or The Baseball Rivals of Columbia
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._
+  Garden City       New York
+
+
+
+
+  Transcriber’s Notes
+
+  pg 8 Changed Rocket was going up-stream to: upstream
+  pg 19 Changed between the Pasons to: Parsons
+  pg 23 Changed Lanky was siting to: sitting
+  pg 26 Changed for the police head-quarters to: headquarters
+  pg 36 Changed spread of carpetted to: carpeted
+  pg 93 Added missing quote before: Let’s get her out
+  pg 95 Changed period to comma: Perhaps they can, Frank replied
+  pg 99 Changed if you are geting to: getting
+  pg 102 Added comma after: finished their work
+  pg 121 Changed way along the trial to: trail
+  pg 121 Changed Rocket toward mid-stream to: midstream
+  pg 136 Added hyphen to: Racing to the boathouse: boat-house
+  pg 136 Added hyphen to: reached the boathouse: boat-house
+  pg 137 Changed Ralph lay pone to: prone
+  pg 143 Changed to be denied hat to: that
+  pg 145 Changed soon had him warmed, inprisoning to: imprisoning
+  pg 176 Changed colon to semi-colon after: seen in the trunk
+  pg 194 Changed switched on his flash-light to: flashlight
+  pg 212 Changed good news his morning to: this
+  pg 214 Added quote before: won’t you organize a party
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 69509 ***
diff --git a/69509-h/69509-h.htm b/69509-h/69509-h.htm
index de292f0..ad91da2 100644
--- a/69509-h/69509-h.htm
+++ b/69509-h/69509-h.htm
@@ -1,8395 +1,7938 @@
-<!DOCTYPE html>

-<html lang="en">

-<head>

-    <meta charset="UTF-8">

-    <title>

-      Frank Allen and his Motor Boat, by Graham B. 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&#8212;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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part

-of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project

-Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG&#8482;

-concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,

-and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following

-the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use

-of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for

-copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very

-easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation

-of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project

-Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away&#8212;you may

-do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected

-by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark

-license, especially commercial redistribution.

-</div>

-

-<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div>

-<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div>

-<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-To protect the Project Gutenberg&#8482; mission of promoting the free

-distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work

-(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase &#8220;Project

-Gutenberg&#8221;), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full

-Project Gutenberg&#8482; License available with this file or online at

-www.gutenberg.org/license.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>

-Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to

-and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property

-(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all

-the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or

-destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works in your

-possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a

-Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work and you do not agree to be bound

-by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person

-or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.B. &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; is a registered trademark. It may only be

-used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who

-agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few

-things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works

-even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See

-paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project

-Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works if you follow the terms of this

-agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (&#8220;the

-Foundation&#8221; or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection

-of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works. Nearly all the individual

-works in the collection are in the public domain in the United

-States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the

-United States and you are located in the United States, we do not

-claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,

-displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as

-all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope

-that you will support the Project Gutenberg&#8482; mission of promoting

-free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the

-Project Gutenberg&#8482; name associated with the work. You can easily

-comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the

-same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License when

-you share it without charge with others.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern

-what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are

-in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,

-check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this

-agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,

-distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any

-other Project Gutenberg&#8482; work. The Foundation makes no

-representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any

-country other than the United States.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other

-immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License must appear

-prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg&#8482; work (any work

-on which the phrase &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; appears, or with which the

-phrase &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; is associated) is accessed, displayed,

-performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

-</div>

-

-<blockquote>

-  <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>

-</blockquote>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work is

-derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not

-contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the

-copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in

-the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are

-redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase &#8220;Project

-Gutenberg&#8221; associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply

-either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or

-obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work is posted

-with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution

-must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any

-additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms

-will be linked to the Project Gutenberg&#8482; License for all works

-posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the

-beginning of this work.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this

-work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg&#8482;.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this

-electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without

-prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with

-active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project

-Gutenberg&#8482; License.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,

-compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including

-any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access

-to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg&#8482; work in a format

-other than &#8220;Plain Vanilla ASCII&#8221; or other format used in the official

-version posted on the official Project Gutenberg&#8482; website

-(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense

-to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means

-of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original &#8220;Plain

-Vanilla ASCII&#8221; or other form. Any alternate format must include the

-full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,

-performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg&#8482; works

-unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing

-access to or distributing Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works

-provided that:

-</div>

-

-<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'>

-    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>

-        &#8226; You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from

-        the use of Project Gutenberg&#8482; works calculated using the method

-        you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed

-        to the owner of the Project Gutenberg&#8482; trademark, but he has

-        agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project

-        Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid

-        within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are

-        legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty

-        payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project

-        Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in

-        Section 4, &#8220;Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg

-        Literary Archive Foundation.&#8221;

-    </div>

-

-    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>

-        &#8226; You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies

-        you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he

-        does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-        License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all

-        copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue

-        all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-        works.

-    </div>

-

-    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>

-        &#8226; You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of

-        any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the

-        electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of

-        receipt of the work.

-    </div>

-

-    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>

-        &#8226; You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free

-        distribution of Project Gutenberg&#8482; works.

-    </div>

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project

-Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work or group of works on different terms than

-are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing

-from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of

-the Project Gutenberg&#8482; trademark. Contact the Foundation as set

-forth in Section 3 below.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.F.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable

-effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread

-works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project

-Gutenberg&#8482; collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may

-contain &#8220;Defects,&#8221; such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate

-or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other

-intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or

-other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or

-cannot be read by your equipment.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the &#8220;Right

-of Replacement or Refund&#8221; described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project

-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project

-Gutenberg&#8482; trademark, and any other party distributing a Project

-Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all

-liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal

-fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT

-LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE

-PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE

-TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE

-LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR

-INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH

-DAMAGE.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a

-defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can

-receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a

-written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you

-received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium

-with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you

-with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in

-lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person

-or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second

-opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If

-the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing

-without further opportunities to fix the problem.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth

-in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you &#8216;AS-IS&#8217;, WITH NO

-OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT

-LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied

-warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of

-damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement

-violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the

-agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or

-limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or

-unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the

-remaining provisions.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the

-trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone

-providing copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works in

-accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the

-production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,

-including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of

-the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this

-or any Project Gutenberg&#8482; work, (b) alteration, modification, or

-additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg&#8482; work, and (c) any

-Defect you cause.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>

-Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg&#8482;

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-Project Gutenberg&#8482; is synonymous with the free distribution of

-electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of

-computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It

-exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations

-from people in all walks of life.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the

-assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg&#8482;&#8217;s

-goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg&#8482; collection will

-remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project

-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure

-and permanent future for Project Gutenberg&#8482; and future

-generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary

-Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see

-Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>

-Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit

-501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the

-state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal

-Revenue Service. The Foundation&#8217;s EIN or federal tax identification

-number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary

-Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by

-U.S. federal laws and your state&#8217;s laws.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-The Foundation&#8217;s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,

-Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up

-to date contact information can be found at the Foundation&#8217;s website

-and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>

-Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-Project Gutenberg&#8482; depends upon and cannot survive without widespread

-public support and donations to carry out its mission of

-increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be

-freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest

-array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations

-($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt

-status with the IRS.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating

-charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United

-States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a

-considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up

-with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations

-where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND

-DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state

-visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we

-have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition

-against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who

-approach us with offers to donate.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make

-any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from

-outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation

-methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other

-ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To

-donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>

-Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project

-Gutenberg&#8482; concept of a library of electronic works that could be

-freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and

-distributed Project Gutenberg&#8482; eBooks with only a loose network of

-volunteer support.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-Project Gutenberg&#8482; eBooks are often created from several printed

-editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in

-the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not

-necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper

-edition.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-Most people start at our website which has the main PG search

-facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>.

-</div>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>

-This website includes information about Project Gutenberg&#8482;,

-including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary

-Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to

-subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

-</div>

-

-</div>

-</body>

-</html>

+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8">
+    <title>
+      Frank Allen and his Motor Boat, by Graham B. 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>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 69509 ***</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>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 69509 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/old/69509-0.txt b/old/69509-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e58da7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/69509-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6637 @@
+The Project Gutenberg eBook of Frank Allen and his motor boat, by
+Graham B. Forbes
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
+will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
+using this eBook.
+
+Title: Frank Allen and his motor boat
+       or, Racing to save a life
+
+Author: Graham B. Forbes
+
+Release Date: December 9, 2022 [eBook #69509]
+
+Language: English
+
+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.)
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR
+BOAT ***
+
+
+
+
+
+  Transcriber’s Note
+
+  Italic text is displayed as: _italic_
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: “THERE HE IS!” CRIED LANKY EXCITEDLY, POINTING TO THE
+MOTOR BOAT THAT LOOMED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM
+
+  _Frank Allen and His Motor Boat_      _Frontispiece_ (Page 203)
+]
+
+
+
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AND
+  HIS MOTOR BOAT
+
+  OR
+
+  Racing to Save a Life
+
+  BY
+
+  GRAHAM B. FORBES
+
+  _Author of “Frank Allen’s Schooldays,” “Frank
+  Allen—Pitcher,” “Frank Allen at
+  Rockspur Ranch,” etc._
+
+  [Illustration: Bookmaker’s symbol]
+
+  GARDEN CITY      NEW YORK
+  GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING CO., INC.
+  1926
+
+
+
+
+  FRANK ALLEN SERIES
+
+  BY
+
+  GRAHAM B. FORBES
+
+  _See back of book for list of titles_
+
+
+  COPYRIGHT, 1926, BY
+  GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.
+  MADE IN U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+TUNING THE ROCKET
+
+
+“Cunningham really wants a race, does he? Well, I’m ready after
+to-day to give him a chance to beat the _Rocket_; but, Lanky, he’ll
+have to handle the _Speedaway_ better than he handles himself or he
+will find himself taking the rough water of this little boat mighty
+quickly.”
+
+Frank Allen and Lanky Wallace were out on the Harrapin river giving
+the regular daily try-out to the _Rocket_. 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) 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.
+
+“You know, sweet little Clarinda—” and Frank started “kidding” his
+pal.
+
+“Listen, boy,” Lanky spoke up quickly, “the Harrapin’s wetter than
+usual to-day. One of us might get damp.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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 you think things are the smoothest is when they are getting
+ready to be the worst.”
+
+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.
+
+“Oh, ye prophet!” and Lanky started laughing.
+
+“Here! Grab the wheel, hold her straight ahead, and let me tickle
+this thing into action,” and Frank let Wallace have his place.
+
+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.
+
+“I wonder who Cunningham is, really,” he said as he wiped his hands
+on some waste and stood again alongside Lanky Wallace.
+
+“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——”
+
+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 _Rocket_
+continued up the river at a medium pace, taking them on an errand for
+Frank’s father.
+
+“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.”
+
+Silence fell again between the two boys while the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“What a summer!” suddenly exclaimed Lanky.
+
+“How?”
+
+“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 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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“You’re sure right,” agreed Lanky.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+With this Frank increased the speed of the boat, and in perhaps sixty
+seconds the _Rocket_ was heading up the Harrapin at a pace which
+Frank had not previously held it to.
+
+“Gee, Frank,” cried Lanky enthusiastically, “what chance has Fred
+Cunningham with this? This is speed, I’ll say!”
+
+“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.
+
+“What’s the use of worrying? I don’t hear anything half as much as I
+see some speed. This is great!”
+
+Gradually the speed of the _Rocket_ was lessened, for Frank was not
+inclined to take chances on something which he did not understand.
+
+“How far do we go?” asked Lanky.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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 view of the
+river boats by great trees and row upon row of shrubs.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“I wonder if she’s afraid to stay there unguarded.”
+
+“Then why doesn’t she move into town, where she would be close to
+neighbors and friends?”
+
+“On advice of counsel, I must refuse to answer,” said Lanky
+banteringly, striking a mock heroic attitude.
+
+Just at this juncture the expected happened. Frank’s exclamation of
+“Now! what’s the matter?” showed that his fears were being realized.
+The engine stopped dead, and the _Rocket_ was going upstream merely
+because of its own headway.
+
+Lanky Wallace took the wheel at the suggestion of Frank, so that he
+himself could get down to tinker with the engine.
+
+Once, twice, three times he tried to get it started, but there was no
+success.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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
+_Rocket’s_ 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.
+
+They had drifted back to a point just upstream from the Parsons house.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+“Now, which of three things was wrong?” laughed Frank, as the motor
+spit and sputtered and then went to running evenly.
+
+“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.”
+
+The two boys washed their hands, Lanky loosened the fastening to the
+tree, gave a huge shove 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.
+
+Then, its nose slowly turned upstream, the engine running smoothly,
+the _Rocket_ picked up speed under the hand of Frank, and out to
+midstream they went, toward the Parsons Island.
+
+“There’s Cunningham right now!” exclaimed Wallace, pointing to a
+rapidly moving boat which was rounding the upper side of the narrow
+island.
+
+It was a trim craft, the _Speedaway_, and worth watching as it
+skimmed around the island and made its way toward the same side of
+the river as was the _Rocket_.
+
+“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.
+
+“Drat his hide!” muttered the other. “Turning directly at us and not
+slowing down.”
+
+Once again Frank eased the _Rocket_ to the port. At once the
+_Speedaway’s_ direction was changed, the boat answering quickly to
+the wheel, as its speed was kept.
+
+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
+_Rocket_, a deliberate attempt to run it down!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE SCREAM IN THE DARK
+
+
+Lanky Wallace looked aghast as the _Speedaway_ bore squarely at them,
+aimed at tearing the _Rocket_ in two.
+
+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.
+
+With one swing of his arm to the motor he increased speed and with
+the coolest deliberation turned the nose of the _Rocket_ squarely for
+the _Speedaway_. 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.
+
+His movement was entirely successful in at least one respect—that he
+got into position quickly for his own next move.
+
+In a flash of time the two boats were almost touching noses. Then
+came the necessary alertness and deftness of movement. With a hard
+tug at his wheel Frank threw the _Rocket_ to one side.
+
+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
+_Speedaway_ around, and did so with such a jerk that a large box fell
+overboard on the other side.
+
+“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.
+
+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
+_Speedaway_.
+
+Her nose now downstream, Frank and Lanky saw that the _Speedaway_
+had also made a wide turn and was coming back toward a box which
+was floating in the river. The speed of the _Rocket_ lessened as it
+neared the other motor boat.
+
+The two men in the _Speedaway_ 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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+By this time the two other men had rescued the box and had placed it
+on the deck forward.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+“What’s that?” called Cunningham threateningly, getting out from the
+cockpit as the two boats lay alongside each other.
+
+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
+_Rocket_ and started toward the side.
+
+“I said this boat was ready for a race any time, and I said it was
+not in the nasty habit of trying to run into other people. Did you
+get me plainly?”
+
+“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 _Speedaway_.
+
+With that he threw the motor into gear and moved away from the
+_Rocket_, which now slowly turned its nose upstream.
+
+Frank and Lanky were both quiet. Wallace wanted to talk, but he knew
+Frank well enough to know that the young captain of the _Rocket_
+did not wish to say anything. Under such conditions Frank Allen was
+always most quiet.
+
+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.
+
+It was just at dusk that the boys came to Northeast Bend in the
+Harrapin and saw the island for which they were headed.
+
+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.
+
+“Well, we’re going to have a moonlight ride on the Harrapin
+to-night—provided there’s a moon,” laughed Frank, as he came hurrying
+back to the _Rocket_ and found Lanky stretched out astern, viewing
+the sky.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said since we started—so far
+as I can recall.”
+
+In the meanwhile Lanky pulled his frame up from the stern seat,
+stretched, jumped to the landing, cast off, and the _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket_ started on its homeward journey.
+
+“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.”
+
+Lanky took up his task, whistling the while, but suddenly ceased the
+music and cried:
+
+“Say, Frank, there’s not a bit of juice. What’s the big idea? Can’t
+light one of them.”
+
+“Throw the main switch on.”
+
+“I have, but not a bit comes through. The line’s dead.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+Fifteen minutes passed without any degree of success, and actual
+darkness was on them.
+
+“Put her nose over to shore, Lanky. No use taking any chances. We’ve
+got to find the trouble.”
+
+Whereupon Lanky did his duty, and the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Doing the work carefully, not dodging about after 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+“Yes, like I’m a good jeweler!”
+
+“Now, little playmate, wilt thee kindly cast off the vessel from
+yonder coral reef?” Frank continued his attitude.
+
+Lanky went shoreward, loosed the rope, and threw it on board at the
+bow, gave the _Rocket_ a push and leaped aboard himself, hastily
+grabbing the oar once again to push the stern away from the shallow
+water.
+
+“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.
+
+Silence now held the boys for a while as Frank picked his way easily
+to midstream and headed for Columbia.
+
+“You know,” Lanky suddenly broke the stillness, 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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Lanky was silent again. Frank joined him.
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“Some one tied there for a while, I guess,” and Frank turned the
+searchlight again toward the middle of the stream.
+
+“Look! A signal!” Lanky had seen a flare of light in the direction of
+the boat.
+
+“Rats, Lanky, you’re letting this darkness get on your nerves.”
+
+“Well—maybe. Anyhow, if it wasn’t a signal of anything else it was a
+signal or sign that he was lighting his pipe.”
+
+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.
+
+“Guess I’m the one that let the light and the sound get on my nerves.
+What time is it, Lanky?”
+
+“Half-past nine o’clock.”
+
+“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,” and Frank stepped over to grasp the flywheel and start the
+engine.
+
+“Help!” It came across the water from the shore of the Parsons estate.
+
+Frank straightened and listened. Lanky was sitting bolt upright. Once
+again there came the shrill scream of a woman. No other sound.
+
+“Wonder what it is, Lanky!”
+
+“Some one in trouble over at the Parsons place.”
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ expertly.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE PARSONS JEWELS
+
+
+Up the inclined bank went the two boys, determined now to get to the
+Parsons house, whence the cries came.
+
+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.
+
+Once more came that cry of a frightened woman!
+
+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!
+
+“Around to the rear!” cried Frank, as Lanky and he turned back from
+the resisting front door.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+“There they go!” both boys cried in the same breath, just as a loud
+cry came from within:
+
+“Help! Let me out!”
+
+It was just over their heads. Frank looked up, but could see nothing.
+The night was as black as ink.
+
+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.
+
+Again Mrs. Parsons, for in all probability it was she, screamed, and
+Frank dived through the dark for the direction indicated by her voice.
+
+“Find a light, Lanky, quick!” he cried, feeling about for the door.
+
+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.
+
+In another moment Frank was smashing against the door behind
+and beyond which the woman was screaming even more lustily, more
+excitedly, than before.
+
+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.
+
+Loosening her arms quickly and lifting her bodily to her feet, Frank
+and Lanky both supported her to a chair.
+
+It was Mrs. Parsons, the wealthy recluse of the county. She was
+thoroughly hysterical.
+
+“My jewels! My silver! They’ve stolen it all and got away! What shall
+I do? What shall I do?”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+“How long were you engaged at this?” asked Frank.
+
+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.
+
+“Oh, I suppose it was fully an hour that I sat here checking and
+thinking idly about different things, then——”
+
+She proceeded with her story, about as follows:
+
+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 enjoyed herself on many occasions
+concentrating on some of them and guessing what they were.
+
+“Suddenly I felt as if some one were behind me,” and she turned
+quickly, apprehensively, around, expecting to see some one.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Then they placed you in the pantry?” asked Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+“How did you get the gag off so that you could scream so loudly—for
+we were attracted by your screams?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“But why scream, when you knew you were so far from neighbors?”
+
+“You heard me, didn’t you? You heard me from the road and came.
+That’s why I screamed.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“Yes, yes, call the police!” she cried, gaining strength and with it
+her composure. “Let’s look around and see what is gone, too.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“All my silverware—gone!” she moaned, her hands to her face.
+“Thousands of dollars’ worth 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!”
+
+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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+She stood quietly and looked at the disturbed condition of things for
+a while. Then she said:
+
+“I wonder if they could have gotten my jewels upstairs. Let’s see!”
+
+She started off with the sudden recollection that these same men
+could have gotten more than the silverware.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“The safe! My jewelry!”
+
+The safe was empty. Papers and large legal envelopes lay on the
+floor, but otherwise the safe was absolutely, completely, hopelessly
+empty.
+
+Mrs. Parsons sat stiffly down on the bed and cried, moaning the while
+about the loss of her jewels.
+
+“How much was there, Mrs. Parsons?” asked Frank, after taking in the
+whole scene and waiting for the first shock to pass.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Having looked carefully about the room, having seen how thoroughly
+these fellows had worked, Frank proposed they go downstairs to await
+the police.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Have you any idea who did this, Mrs. Parsons?” asked one of the men
+from the police department.
+
+“If I had, would I have you out here? Wouldn’t I have you chasing
+them right now?”
+
+“I mean, madam, would you recognize them if you saw them again?”
+
+“No, because they wore handkerchiefs over their faces, and that is
+all I saw as I turned to see what was behind me.”
+
+“Did you notice their clothes or anything?”
+
+“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.”
+
+The policeman smiled.
+
+“Pretty hard work to find one fellow out of thousands whose finger
+was bitten.”
+
+“And, besides,” broke in Frank Allen, “they are a long distance from
+here right now. That car started away mighty fast.”
+
+“What car? Did you see them? Did you get here in time to see them get
+off in a car?”
+
+The man from police headquarters swung on Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Where were you when you heard Mrs. Parsons?”
+
+“Out on the river,” answered Frank.
+
+“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.
+
+“Sure. How would we have come here if we hadn’t heard the noise?”
+asked Frank in turn.
+
+The two men from police headquarters drew aside and held a whispered
+consultation. Then the chief of the two came back.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“Oh, officer,” cried the widow. “What do you mean? Frank Allen could
+have had nothing to do with this!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+WHEN FIRE LIGHTS THE SKY
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Zat so, young man? Well, my advice to you is to keep a quiet tongue
+or things won’t be so quiet for you.”
+
+This exchange of remarks brought Mrs. Parsons around from her
+hysterical fright to a feeling of resentment.
+
+“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 to gain proof against the men who have done this.”
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“This is my house, sir!” The widow spoke angrily. “Mr. Allen will
+stay here until he pleases to leave.”
+
+“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.”
+
+With this Frank and Lanky bowed themselves out of the house and were
+gone down the river bank.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+For both were looking, or trying to look, through the darkness to a
+point upstream. Seeing in this inky blackness was impossible. Even
+their boat, the _Rocket_, was a slightly darkened blob against the
+river.
+
+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.
+
+“What does it mean?” asked Wallace.
+
+“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.”
+
+“But it doesn’t alter the fact that he has accused us of having
+something to do with this robbery.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“Sure, it isn’t there! What’s the use of going 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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+Lanky had asked a question that meant something. What, indeed, could
+the car have to do with the boat?
+
+Frank was silent, thinking, as was Lanky.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“I did,” replied his mate. “There wasn’t any.”
+
+“What? Are you quite sure?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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 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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+The idea was a good one, and Frank turned to look fairly at his
+friend before he answered.
+
+“Hey! Hold off there! What the dickens!”
+
+The sudden cry had come from out the darkness on the river. Frank’s
+head was back again to the forward end of the _Rocket_. Squarely in
+his path was a dark object of considerable size!
+
+With a wide sweep of the wheel he threw the _Rocket_ hard over to the
+port side, his right hand reaching down to slow the motor so as to
+decrease the impact when he struck.
+
+But the _Rocket_ missed the object.
+
+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.
+
+But the man at the oars was pulling hard on them, getting out of
+range of the light.
+
+“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” came out across the river
+to them.
+
+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.
+
+“Isn’t that the same boat?” gasped Lanky.
+
+Frank said nothing. Instead, he changed the course of the _Rocket_,
+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.
+
+Around it to the far side he went, then swung as closely as good
+navigation of the _Rocket_ would permit, to get back to the course
+made by the rowboat.
+
+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.
+
+Back upstream they went, the searchlight playing here and there,
+seeking for the little craft.
+
+“I’d be careful, Frank,” muttered Lanky Wallace. “If there’s anything
+wrong about these fellows, they’re very apt to do some shooting.”
+
+“I’ll take the chance,” and Frank gritted his teeth.
+
+Over toward the farther shore they went, then swung back again, but
+the searchlight of the _Rocket_, though flung first to one side and
+then the other, failed to reveal the boat.
+
+“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.”
+
+“But it isn’t in sight. It is so plagued pitchy dark that one can’t
+see, anyhow,” replied the other.
+
+“But we’ve come right across their path. They can’t have gotten far.”
+
+“No—you’re right. But they’ve gotten out of sight whether they got
+far away or not.”
+
+“Suppose they turned, too, when they saw us turning, and went to the
+upper side of the island? Let’s take a look?”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Though they searched the waters and around the island for several
+minutes, no trace of the rowboat was to be found. It had completely
+vanished in the night.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“You’re absolutely right, Lanky. And it was that very idea in my own
+mind that caused me to want to hunt it out.”
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“We might have been thoughtful enough to have called our people from
+Mrs. Parsons and let them know where we were,” ruefully remarked
+Frank.
+
+“As if we could have been so thoughtful under 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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Was that a trunk or a box in that boat?” asked Frank.
+
+“Looked to me like a large box—about the size of one I saw earlier in
+the day in the _Speedaway_.”
+
+“Huh?” This had set Frank to thinking.
+
+“And that rowboat looked as much like the one we saw at the bank
+above the Parsons place as any other rowboat would look.”
+
+“That’s putting two and two together, Lanky, as rapidly as that
+policeman did.”
+
+“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.
+
+The two boys studied a bright reflection in the sky for some seconds,
+both figuring what this might be.
+
+“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.
+
+“Where can it be? In the heart of town? Or is it further away?”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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!”
+
+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!
+
+Frank gave the motor all its speed. The _Rocket_ fairly leaped out of
+the water on its way!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE TOLL THAT FIRE COLLECTS
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“I believe it is, too,” came from his friend.
+
+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
+exposed to anything which might start a fire, and then, ready to
+leave, he threw off the main switch.
+
+Out of the building they went on the shoreward side, and started the
+dash for the fire.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Sparks and flying pieces of burning wood were being hurled in every
+direction.
+
+Frank and Lanky, leaping lines of hose, dodging the firemen, roughly
+breaking their way through the cordons of people here and there,
+dashed headlong for the fire.
+
+“Hi! Come back there! Get back of the line!” yelled one policeman, as
+Frank broke through a crowd of onlookers.
+
+Before he could dodge or wriggle through somewhere else the burly
+fellow had him by the shoulder.
+
+“That’s my father’s place!” cried Frank. “Let me through so I can
+help him. Maybe he’s in there!”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+The entire northwest corner of the Allen Department Store was ablaze,
+flames leaping from the tier of windows running up the freight
+elevator. 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.
+
+Frank stood motionless as the sight lay before him. Lanky stood
+panting beside him, their eyes taking in the scene from top to bottom.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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?”
+
+“That’s the idea! But don’t you do it! Let some of the firemen do
+that. They’re better prepared.”
+
+Frank paid no further heed. He called to Lanky, and then led the way
+to the warehouse 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.
+
+“How’ll we get up there?” asked Lanky.
+
+“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.”
+
+As they came out of the warehouse Mr. Allen was there to meet them,
+with the chief of the department alongside.
+
+“Here, Frank, the chief will attend to that.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“We’ll put a hose up there, too!” cried the chief.
+
+“Look out for the garage over there!” went up a shout from the crowd
+just at this juncture, and they all turned to look.
+
+Great fiery embers were floating down on the roof of the garage which
+stood on the opposite side, 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Making their way quickly across to the parting 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Gee, I hope it hasn’t gotten through any of those floor doors,”
+remarked Frank, as they reached the top floor of the lodge building
+and walked down the stairs.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+Crash! Crash! A sound as of a floor falling.
+
+Just at this moment the fire chief came running toward Frank.
+
+“Mr. Allen’s down in the basement! He went in there a minute ago!”
+
+“Is father in there?” blurted Frank Allen dazedly.
+
+“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.”
+
+“That’s a fact. Went running in, and I yelled at him, because there’s
+no telling what’s in there yet.”
+
+Frank turned and started for the front door.
+
+“Here, here!” the chief grabbed for Frank. “Hold on! I’ll go in there
+and find him! Stay out of there!”
+
+But he had spoken too slowly, and even his words would not have
+stopped the boy. Lanky went leaping 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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 the basement from the rear office, while the broader stairway was
+used for customers.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+AN UGLY INTIMATION
+
+
+Grabbing his father under the arms, Frank half carried, half
+supported him to the stairway, just as the chief came scrambling down.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Helen were out in the Canadian Rockies
+on a visit.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Morning came to find a very weary young man still waiting nervously
+around the hospital for better word of his father’s condition.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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. The cleaning and brightening of the store would require some
+days.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+He told Ralph some parts of the story, the high lights of it,
+following Ralph’s questions.
+
+“Why are you asking so many questions about it?” asked Frank, for
+Ralph was not generally given to gathering such close details.
+
+“Because I heard on the street a while ago that the chief is going
+to have a hearing of some sort and that they are going to ask you and
+Lanky over there.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“It may be of no use,” replied Frank. “How do we know they have not
+already found the fellows?”
+
+At this juncture a policeman waved to the boys from across the
+street, and came up to Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Can we go?” Ralph West immediately asked, meaning Paul Bird and
+himself.
+
+“Sure, you can go! But I don’t know whether the chief will let you
+in.”
+
+“We’ll go and try,” both the boys agreed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Mrs. Parsons first told her story, practically the same as she had
+told two nights before, the difference lying primarily in her
+quietness of manner as opposed to the rather hysterical recital she
+had formerly made.
+
+Then followed the two statements by Frank and by Lanky, both the
+same, for they had seen the same things.
+
+Following this came the statements of the two policemen who had
+appeared on the scene after having been called.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“First, how far, Mr. Allen, were you out in the river when you heard
+the cries of Mrs. Parsons?”
+
+“I should say we were a hundred yards from shore.”
+
+“How long did it take you to land and get to the house?” asked the
+chief.
+
+“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 dark and we probably were longer than we might have been had it
+been daylight.”
+
+Then the chief skipped over the whole narrative to the next question,
+which was one of opinion:
+
+“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?”
+
+Frank smiled a little, for he and Lanky had talked over the same
+question.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.
+
+“Well, Mr. Allen,” pursued the chief, “perhaps you have some idea,
+since you and your friend have talked about it.”
+
+“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 for them until some prearranged signal had been given.”
+
+At this remark Fred Cunningham leaned over and said something in a
+whisper to one of the police.
+
+The chief turned toward him immediately.
+
+“Mr. Cunningham, we’re going to hear your story in a little while.
+Please do not talk with others meanwhile.”
+
+So Cunningham had a story to tell! Frank wondered what it would be.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“All right, but I have one more question I would like to ask, and
+then I may be through. It is this: What were you doing that day on
+the river with your motor boat? That is, please account for your
+time.”
+
+Again Frank saw the veiled intent of accusation. There was something
+deeper here than he knew.
+
+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.
+
+“Ordinarily, would it take you so long to run up the river on such an
+errand and come back?”
+
+“Certainly not, sir, but you must remember that I had trouble with
+the motor.”
+
+“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?”
+
+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 any other place would have been just as good.
+
+“But you have not told me why you were not in that boat for two
+hours.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“The word has been brought to me that your boat lay there for two
+hours and that you were not on board.”
+
+“The person who told you that told an untruth. I never put my foot on
+shore that afternoon.”
+
+“Mr. Cunningham,” as the chief turned to him, “did you see Mr.
+Allen’s boat tied there while you were out in your own?”
+
+“Yes, sir, I did.”
+
+“And do I understand that you are sure that neither Mr. Allen nor his
+friend were in the boat for two hours?”
+
+“That’s it, exactly,” replied Cunningham.
+
+“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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A BREACH
+
+
+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.
+
+Cunningham did not reply. Instead he fidgeted in his chair, and
+looked at the chief, who was nonplussed.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“Then you do not say that you actually saw my _Rocket_ tied to
+the shore for two hours?” asked Frank, directing the question at
+Cunningham.
+
+“No, I did not say I saw it myself. But the man who told me is a
+thoroughly reliable one.”
+
+“Is he any more reliable than the information he gave you?” Again
+Frank shot a direct question.
+
+“Now, now, that will not do. I am carrying on this hearing,” broke in
+the police chief.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Do you mean to say that this information is not true?” asked the
+chief.
+
+“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 known this man at all, nor do you know anything about
+him.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+With this the young man rose to go. The chief stood and raised his
+hand.
+
+“I wish you to remain right here until I have finished this hearing.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+As they left the room, Lanky took Frank’s arm, but not a word passed
+between the two boys.
+
+Ralph and Paul joined them outside, but it was plain to both the boys
+that Frank and Lanky did not care to talk at this time, and they
+contented themselves with walking along the street.
+
+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.
+
+In the bunch of girls was Minnie Cuthbert, looking sweeter than ever
+since her return from Rockspur Ranch.
+
+“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.
+
+Frank was the first to regain his happy manner.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“I haven’t seen him in the last few minutes. He was up the street a
+while ago.”
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_,
+especially since Minnie Cuthbert had refused Frank’s request to take
+her and said she was going to go with the crowd of girls.
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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, even to the point where she was willing
+to refuse Frank’s attentions.
+
+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 _Speedaway_.
+
+The girls were at the picnic grounds, as, indeed were most of the
+boys, when they swung in toward the shore to land.
+
+“Wonder where the _Speedaway_ is,” remarked Wallace.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+But the girls vetoed any spoiling of their plans. Moreover, the truck
+containing the best part of the luncheon had not yet arrived, they
+declared.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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 _Speedaway_!”
+
+“Atta girl!” came from Cunningham. “You’re a judge of boats!”
+
+“Also of those who run them!” she bantered.
+
+“And that’s agreed!” came instantly from the stranger. “The
+_Speedaway_, 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.”
+
+“I thought Frank Allen was going to race his _Rocket_ against her.”
+Irene was pursuing the matter insistently.
+
+“That’s what Frank Allen is going to do,” that personage spoke up.
+“The _Rocket_ is ready any time, including to-day.”
+
+“I haven’t the _Speedaway_ 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.”
+
+“How about one week from to-day?” asked Frank Allen.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_.
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“We’re going to get caught in a rain!” those in front cried as a few
+drops of water fell.
+
+Frank, who had paid no attention to the change in the weather in his
+deep thought about Minnie’s change toward him, now took a look at
+things.
+
+“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.”
+
+He changed the course of the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+SHARP WORDS
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Minnie seemed to be in a tempest, her expression one of anger when
+Frank spoke.
+
+“Your attention was called to it when we started,” she shot at him as
+they reached the _Rocket_ at the shore.
+
+“Quite true, Minnie. But do you think for a moment that I came down
+here to get myself wet, too, just for the fun of getting you girls
+wet? Just remember that I got as much of it as any one else.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Into the _Rocket_ climbed all the girls, while Frank shoved easily
+off and took charge of the engine and the wheel.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_Rocket_ to its course.
+
+“Please let me run it, won’t you?” she asked.
+
+Whereupon the length of time it took Frank to 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.
+
+“Girls, isn’t this fine? I’m going to capture that port yonder. Fire
+when you are ready, men!”
+
+Minnie, a driver of an automobile herself, fearless of mechanical
+things, swung the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+Some one from the picnic grounds noticed that Minnie was steering the
+_Rocket_, 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.
+
+Minnie took the speedy little craft gracefully around the island,
+making a three-quarter turn, and then dashed straight for shore.
+
+Frank gave her directions to go slightly upstream before making the
+turn down again to the grounds, and then cut off the engine.
+
+“It must be truthfully said,” laughed Lanky, as 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.”
+
+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.
+
+Out of the boat all of the passengers jumped as they touched, Frank
+tying, and the crowd was all around them.
+
+“Where were you during the rain?”
+
+“Did you make Whipper’s Island?”
+
+“Did you go into that hut?”
+
+“Look how wet they got!”
+
+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.
+
+“I must have you drive the _Speedaway_!” cried Fred Cunningham coming
+forward and making a very successful attempt to separate Minnie from
+the others.
+
+“I certainly should love to. Can’t we get it out to-morrow?” she
+asked.
+
+“No, because I am going to be out of town. You see, I have some
+business which I must attend to. My two friends are anxious to have
+me with them on a business deal.”
+
+“Did you hear that, Frank?” whispered Lanky.
+
+“I did.”
+
+“Rather nervy, I’ll say.”
+
+“Well, he has the right to do it, I suppose,” returned the owner of
+the _Rocket_.
+
+“Humph, he ought to have his head punched,” was the growled-out reply.
+
+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.
+
+It had not occurred to Frank to bring along the two folding stools
+aboard the _Rocket_, 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.
+
+“What do you think of that?” Lanky asked Frank.
+
+“I think if whatever nerve he has continues to develop, he ought to
+be able to get along in this world,” was Frank Allen’s very apt
+reply. “But he has shown me what a bonehead I carry on top of my own
+shoulders, anyhow.”
+
+“I agree,” Lanky rejoined, without a smile.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ and the
+_Speedaway_.
+
+“It will be only a few days more,” called out Fred Cunningham. “I
+have been watching the _Rocket_ of Allen’s, and I saw the way
+it acted this afternoon. It really will be a shame the way the
+_Speedaway_ will run off from the _Rocket_.”
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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 _Rocket_,”
+answered Frank.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But they missed their guess, for Irene Rich was the one who spoiled
+their hopes with the remark:
+
+“Frank was up there, and he ought to know a whole lot. Why not tell
+us all about it, Frank?”
+
+Fred Cunningham appeared to be interested in what was going on, and
+looked from one to the other as questions and urgings passed around
+the little crowd.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Sure they have,” Lanky now interrupted. “What’s the use of serving
+it all over again—cold?”
+
+“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.
+
+Fred Cunningham rose from his seat and walked around the group,
+fearful that something might be said which he would not hear.
+
+“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.”
+
+“That is right,” spoke up Cunningham, a guest, but willing to get
+away from the grounds.
+
+So, there being little else to do, the crowd being weary of the day,
+packing operations were started immediately.
+
+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.
+
+“Say,” Paul Bird spoke up quietly, as he was standing near Frank at
+one time, “what do you say if several of us go up there to-morrow to
+see if we can find anything.”
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“It took those men away, didn’t it?” asked Ralph.
+
+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?
+
+“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?”
+
+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 aboard, and Buster’s job was to have lunch for all
+on board, inasmuch as they would spend the day up the river.
+
+Minnie joined the group of boys after a short while.
+
+“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?”
+
+This invitation was a bombshell in the crowd. They all looked at
+Frank for an answer.
+
+“Sorry, Minnie, but all of us have agreed to make a little trip of
+exploration to-morrow to try out the _Rocket_, and we won’t be able
+to go. If it were the next day, now——”
+
+“It can’t be the next day. I can’t change my arrangements, and you
+can change yours.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank’s position rather startled Minnie. She was not accustomed to
+having people attempt to alter her plans.
+
+Just at this moment Fred Cunningham walked over to the crowd.
+
+“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 _Rocket_ can
+wait another day.”
+
+“I am afraid it has waited too long.”
+
+“Going to hunt up the place where you had your two hours of engine
+trouble?” Cunningham shot covertly at Frank.
+
+“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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE MYSTERIOUS ROWBOAT
+
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_.
+
+Minnie Cuthbert came over to his side while he was making ready to
+cast off from the river bank.
+
+“Frank, may I ride back with you to town? I’d like to go up the river
+instead of riding back in a car.”
+
+“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.
+
+“Won’t you please tell me,” she asked when they 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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+At the bow of the boat, Paul, Lanky, and Ralph were close together,
+whispering exchanges about the most recent happening.
+
+“What do you think Frank knows?” Paul was asking.
+
+“I don’t think he knows any more than we do,” 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.”
+
+At the cockpit Frank and Minnie were standing.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Why so mysterious about it, Frank? You know I am not going to say
+anything.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“He hasn’t talked about you, Frank. You know very well that I would
+never stand for anything of that kind.”
+
+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.
+
+“Did he not tell you what occurred over in the rooms of the chief of
+police in the hearing yesterday afternoon?”
+
+“Not a word. What happened?”
+
+“Hasn’t he told you that I stand suspected of knowing something about
+this robbery?”
+
+Minnie gasped in amazement at this question.
+
+“You have something to do with it? Have you really, Frank? What is
+it? Surely you are not implicated——”
+
+“Do you think I am?” he looked straight into her eyes as he put the
+question.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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?”
+
+“Yes, on father’s business. I went to see no girl—brunette or blonde.”
+
+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 sly connection of this brunette,
+whoever he meant, with himself—that was another thing.
+
+Minnie asked again what it was that Frank had done to be implicated
+in any manner, but Frank merely asked her to await developments.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Trust Frank to get to the bottom of the affair,” remarked Ralph.
+
+“I sure hope so,” came from Paul.
+
+They reached Columbia at dusk, warped easily into the boat-house, and
+made for home, Frank walking out with Minnie.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Why not on general principles?” laughed Ralph.
+
+“No—I want something very specific, so that I can feel that I have a
+job to finish well.”
+
+The other two boys felt largely the same way toward the good-looking
+stranger who had forced himself on them.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Before Frank could go to the _Rocket_, 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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 told
+much of the details, merely that Mrs. Parsons place had been robbed.
+Mr. Allen was a sick man.
+
+“All ready, fellows?” asked Frank as he reached the boat-house and
+saw the four boys lined up. “Let’s get her out, then!”
+
+So the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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 _Speedaway_?”
+asked Paul.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.
+
+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 _Rocket_. Taking the very middle of the
+stream, moving against the current, the bow lifted clear, and the
+_Rocket_ 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.
+
+“The _Speedaway’s_ 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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Where do we go first?” Lanky asked.
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank only shook his head negatively when asked what his idea might
+be.
+
+“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.
+
+In a short while they were standing off the shore of the Parsons
+place. Frank ran a quarter of a mile up the river, and then turned
+and came slowly downstream, drifting.
+
+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 _Rocket_ over to shore, his eyes also
+fixed on the slightly inclining bank.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“What is it that gives me the pleasure of this visit?” speaking very
+frigidly.
+
+“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.”
+
+“I think the police can do that perfectly well.”
+
+“Perhaps they can,” Frank replied pleasantly. “But it so happens that
+two of us are decidedly interested in having something done at once.”
+
+“I think something is being done,” she replied.
+
+Frank saw that she had turned completely against him, for she had
+never been so cold before to him.
+
+“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!’”
+
+Whether the semi-quotation was lost on the woman Frank did not know,
+but he was afterwards to learn.
+
+“So far, you are here without my invitation,” she said just as coldly
+as ever, “and I must ask that you leave the place.”
+
+“We will, Mrs. Parsons, by the road at the rear of the house.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Lanky, you go down to that opening right away. When you get to it
+go slowly, and back out to the river, while I watch.”
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE ROWBOAT IS FOUND
+
+
+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.
+
+“He’s found something!” cried Frank, as he led the boys across the
+lawn of Mrs. Parsons like hounds in full chase.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“I rather think it is. Let’s study it all very carefully,” Frank
+looked downstream to where the _Rocket_ was riding the current of
+the Harrapin. “First, are we the right distance above the _Rocket_,
+because, if you remember, we had time to throw our searchlight before
+we heard the scream.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Remember the match that was lighted in the rowboat that night, and
+how it stood out above everything?”
+
+“What—a signal?” cried Ralph West, while Paul and Buster stood with
+mouths open, listening.
+
+“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?”
+
+“That seems to answer our question about the automobile,” Lanky
+slowly reasoned things out.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+“Gee, this is getting exciting!” cried Buster.
+
+“I’ll say it is,” added Ralph.
+
+“Regular detective story,” put in Paul.
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank agreed that the time might be right.
+
+“But,” he added, “do you recall we thought we heard a sound from
+shore as if some one were answering?”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“We haven’t answered the question yet why and when the signal was
+given.”
+
+“What is this—an examination?” Ralph broke in. “I wish I could help!”
+
+“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?”
+
+“Right you are—and if you come to the same conclusions I have, we’re
+going to get on the track of somebody.”
+
+“I have it!” cried Lanky, touching Frank on the 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?”
+
+“The madam said for you to clear out of here.”
+
+“You clear out yourself!” called Frank, starting toward the fellow.
+“We’re doing no harm to any one.”
+
+Henry did not wait any longer. He said, “All right,” and started back
+for the lawn. The boys watched him leave.
+
+“Now, what were you saying, Lanky?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“But why would a signal come from there?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“They surely did, Frank,” agreed Wallace. “I believe they could have
+done it.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“Four, of course!” came in quick reply from Lanky.
+
+“Well, then, if that’s agreed, let’s go to the _Rocket_ and we’ll do
+some more hunting.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“We’ll go hunting for that rowboat now, Lanky,” said Frank, as the
+_Rocket_ was shoved off from shore. “It is somewhere along the river.
+We’ll just spend the rest of the day finding it.”
+
+“I suppose the first place to start the hunt will be at the point
+where we almost struck it?” asked Lanky.
+
+“Absolutely! Let’s try to locate that spot, and 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.”
+
+Paul and Ralph was sitting at the bow of the _Rocket_ whispering to
+each other, their remarks concerning their hopes that they would
+locate the little craft.
+
+Frank eased the _Rocket_ well out to the middle of the Harrapin, the
+sun bearing down heavily on them now, for it was getting toward noon.
+
+“How about something to eat? Let’s have the eats!” Buster Billings
+demanded when they were well started down the stream, the _Rocket_
+riding the water smoothly.
+
+“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.
+
+It appeared to Lanky and Frank, as the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Suiting the action to the word, Frank Allen held the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“Now, don’t you think this is about where we were?”
+
+Wallace agreed that, as nearly as could be told in the daylight, this
+was the spot where they had started their hunt.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank put the _Rocket_ hard over, and gradually brought it under
+the trees, though it was a close shave to make it fit under the
+low-hanging branches.
+
+“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!”
+
+Frank was won over to Lanky’s idea, after studying the situation very
+carefully.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+The _Rocket_ slowly, very carefully, nosed out of the willow-nook and
+turned straight for upstream.
+
+“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.”
+
+The boys took the cue of their leader, Frank, and while he brought
+the _Rocket_ farther over to the opposite side of the river, they
+strained their eyes to watch for any trace of it.
+
+An hour passed slowly by, with the _Rocket_ making its way steadily
+up the Harrapin, the boys watching the shore. But no success was
+theirs.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+They decided to turn the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Another fifteen minutes passed, and it was noticeable they were
+moving with the current a little faster than they had come up against
+it.
+
+It was Frank who, happening to glance up from the wheel at the right
+moment, saw something which attracted his attention at the shore.
+
+“Look! Do you see anything?” he cried.
+
+“It’s a rowboat!” exclaimed Lanky. “And I believe it’s the same one!
+Let’s get to it.”
+
+Frank started the engine, swung the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE MYSTERY BOX
+
+
+Lanky Wallace leaped to shore as the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+They gathered about the rowboat, as if it were some strange animal,
+five pairs of eyes centered upon it.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+These were some of the thoughts which flashed through Frank’s mind as
+the five boys stood looking upon it.
+
+“Let’s see what is beyond the thicket,” suggested Lanky, turning to
+lead the way through the undergrowth.
+
+“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.
+
+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?
+
+Lanky, Buster, Paul and Ralph were starting through the brush and had
+gotten twenty or thirty feet from the boat before Frank followed.
+
+“Psst!” came a sound from the leader of the Indian file, and Lanky
+signaled back to Frank to come forward.
+
+“There’s a house and a barn, and here’s a path leading to them!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+“Let’s sneak up there and see what is the lie of the land,” murmured
+Lanky, ready to proceed at a signal from Frank.
+
+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.
+
+“What’s the matter, Frank? Don’t you think this is the right place?
+There is the boat——”
+
+“We—ll, all right, let’s see what we see. Let’s go along mighty
+carefully. Don’t disturb anything.”
+
+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.
+
+The sun was slanted down toward the west, indicating midafternoon of
+a bright summer’s day.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Lanky, in the lead, came to a halt, holding his hand up in quick
+signal.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“That’s the man who was rowing that boat!” he exclaimed whisperingly
+to Frank.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Gradually the door was closed, and the boys plainly heard the hook as
+it was brought into place.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+The other boys, stooping and watching with eyes that strained
+and ears that were sharply set for every sound, waited for any
+eventualities. Second after second passed away, but nothing of
+untoward significance came to their ears.
+
+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.
+
+Stealthily opening the door and fastening it from the inside again,
+he peered around the barn, accustoming his eyes to the semi-darkness.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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 notion he could arrange in his mind, Frank heard the stealthy
+tread again, as if the man were approaching the loft ladder.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Frank’s face lighted with a merry smile as he thought of his own
+predicament—inside the barn with the rear door locked from the inside!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+He signaled to them to keep back. Lanky was watching Jed Marmette as
+he made his way toward the farmhouse.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Let’s follow and see what he does with it.”
+
+“All right. Get him located, and we’ll follow.”
+
+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.
+
+Along the weedy pathway the two boys ran as quickly as stealth
+permitted, now and then peering 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.
+
+“You stay right here and I’ll sneak as near as I can. If I need any
+help, come quickly.”
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+Here Frank laid a new scheme of exploration, and took Lanky with him
+while the other boys, Paul, Buster and Ralph, watched.
+
+Into the rear of the barn, up the ladder to the loft, and then a
+search. Frank led, for he felt he knew where the sounds had been
+made—and success was his at once.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+STOPPED BY THE HAND OF FATE
+
+
+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.
+
+Lanky gasped in the utmost surprise, and looked at the many pieces
+with wide eyes.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket’s_ landing place.
+
+“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 _Rocket_ well into the
+river.
+
+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 _Rocket_ toward midstream, trying to get far enough
+to drift with the river’s current before starting the engine.
+
+Still not a word came from either of the two boys as to the
+happenings within that barn on Jed Marmette’s place.
+
+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.
+
+“Well?” Paul could hold himself no longer. “Please tell what you saw
+up in the barn! You must have seen something of interest or you
+wouldn’t be so quiet.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“And all the Parsons’ stuff is in that chest?” Paul asked the
+question.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Why do you suppose he buried it?” again Paul queried.
+
+“Hump——”
+
+“Do you think he was putting it there so that no one would find it
+in case they were discovered?”
+
+“I certainly do not!” spoke up Lanky Wallace.
+
+“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.”
+
+“But, suppose Jed goes to jail?” asked Paul.
+
+“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.
+
+“Why kid me?” Paul stuck to his questioning.
+
+“Oh, listen to him! Say, Mr. President, we’ll have to call this
+operative. He’s a mess!”
+
+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?
+
+“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?”
+
+Paul said nothing more, yet they had not answered 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.
+
+Quietly the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Sure,” agreed Wallace instantly.
+
+“Next, you remember they dropped a large box of some kind off the
+_Speedaway_ when I swerved and struck them aft.”
+
+“Yes,” again agreed Lanky. “And it’s my impression the box they
+dropped off the _Speedaway_ 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.”
+
+“I’ve just been wondering if that is true.”
+
+Again silence reigned on the _Rocket_.
+
+Frank called for the lights, which Lanky attended to without further
+ado. The sun’s rays had passed out below the horizon, the day was
+coming to an end, and the boys were getting toward home in the
+beautiful hour of twilight.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+But, if this was done, what would be the result?
+
+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.
+
+On the other hand, if some plan were worked out by which the actual
+thieves could be caught removing 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.
+
+Certainly, the locating of the thieves was the way to proceed. But
+how do it?
+
+Could they expect help from the police department?
+
+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?
+
+The distant lights of the town were coming into sight as the _Rocket_
+made the last bend in the river when Lanky finally broke the silence
+which had fallen upon the lads.
+
+“What shall we do, Frank? Shall we go to the chief or shall we follow
+this thing out ourselves?”
+
+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.
+
+“It seems the only thing we can do, Lanky. If we keep this knowledge
+to ourselves we are apt, in some unforeseen manner, to find
+ourselves in a tight box.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+The other boys nodded their assent to this statement.
+
+“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?”
+
+No one replied; they waited for Frank to reply to his own question.
+
+“Simply because we were selfish, thoughtful only of our own
+reputations. That’s rough, but it’s true, isn’t it?”
+
+“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.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+It being agreed among them, no other course suggesting itself to any
+of them, they fell silent while the _Rocket_ headed straight for its
+boat-house on the Harrapin.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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 off, and the day was done in so far as the
+motor boat was concerned.
+
+“Now, it’s up to the chief’s office for us, and if he isn’t there
+we’ll have to find him.”
+
+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.
+
+Stopping along the street to pass remarks with other boys of their
+acquaintance, answering questions about the speed of the _Rocket_,
+they found themselves a few blocks nearer to the large brick
+structure without having attracted any undue attention.
+
+This, though unplanned, was the best way to proceed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Just then one of the attendants at the hospital came rushing up,
+touched Frank on the shoulder and whispered:
+
+“Come to the hospital quickly. The doctor wants you.”
+
+Before Frank could ask questions, before he could get any
+information, the attendant was gone.
+
+Frank turned and dashed for the hospital at full speed, all of the
+other boys right behind him.
+
+Not waiting to reach the gate, Frank vaulted the fence and raced for
+the building. Just inside stood the doctor.
+
+“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!”
+
+Frank stood dazed for a moment.
+
+“Tell the druggist I’m coming!” he cried, turning to the door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+RACING FOR A LIFE
+
+
+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.
+
+“It’s life or death!” resounded in his ears as he turned to run out
+of the hospital.
+
+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.
+
+“It’s life or death!”
+
+The words were thundered at him by an inner consciousness, literally
+throbbing in his mind.
+
+“Frank, can we go with you? We are going. Tell us what to do and
+we’ll do it!” From Lanky came the words, quiet, meaningful, the
+words of a friend ready to help in a crisis.
+
+“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.
+
+“You come along slowly. Don’t run. Take your time. I’ll have the
+_Rocket_ 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.
+
+The words of Lanky Wallace galvanized all of them into action. He had
+thought of the thing to do—prepare the _Rocket_ for the trip, and he
+alone had started toward the river to attend to the duty of getting
+the boat out of the house.
+
+Just as the other boys started for the door a girlish figure came
+in—Minnie Cuthbert.
+
+“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!”
+
+“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 _Rocket_ down. I’m going now to get it.”
+
+They looked fairly into each other’s eyes, this girl whose
+attractiveness held Frank in its grip, and this one boy who had been
+the magnet for most of the attention of Minnie Cuthbert.
+
+“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.”
+
+“There isn’t a thing you can do—now—Minnie. God and the doctor have
+put everything into my hands. The _Rocket_ 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
+_Rocket_ out. I’m going now—every minute means something. The doctor
+says it’s life or death.”
+
+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 _Speedaway_—was now called into action by the
+Fates to race against the greatest contestant in the activities of
+life—Death.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“There isn’t a minute to spare!” he said, his cap thrown to his head.
+“It’s life or death!”
+
+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 _Rocket_, ready for the race.
+
+“Hey! Hey!” came a cry from the crossing of Fourth Street as the boys
+tore at full speed to the river.
+
+“Frank! Frank Allen!” came the cry.
+
+All three of the boys halted almost instantly, for the loud cry came
+from one who seemed to call for a purpose.
+
+It was Chief Berry, hurrying around the corner. He beckoned to Frank.
+
+“Frank, it is my very sad duty to say to you that you must come to
+my office at once. I want you to explain something which has just
+been brought to my attention.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“I cannot help it—you’ve got to come to my office!” sternly announced
+the officer of the law.
+
+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.
+
+“Wait a minute, young man!” exclaimed the officer of the law. “I say
+you must come to my office with me at once.”
+
+“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.
+
+“I’ll place you under arrest!”
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank Allen, determined, knowing only one duty in the whole world,
+and the chief of police, knowing 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.
+
+Racing to the boat-house, putting every ounce of his strength into
+the legs which carried him to the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+It was only after he leaped aboard the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+Though the words of the chief of police puzzled 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 _Rocket_ and himself.
+
+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 _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+Faster and faster went the _Rocket_. 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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ on its way, having every foot of speed the
+engine could give.
+
+No word passed between the boys. The two forward gasped now and then
+as a rush of air suddenly shot down their open mouths.
+
+Ahead of them loomed a broad raft of logs, and Paul turned his head
+involuntarily to signal or to call to Frank.
+
+But the searchlight had picked it up and Frank held the _Rocket_ far
+enough over to make around one end of the raft without lessing speed.
+
+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?
+
+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?
+
+Would this race be a futile one? Was the fast-moving specter of Death
+to win this contest?
+
+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 what
+they would have to face if he, Frank, did not get the drug back in
+time.
+
+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!
+
+Frank’s involuntary effort was to push on the wheel, to urge, to
+force the _Rocket_ 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!
+
+He leaned over to see that everything exterior was functioning
+properly.
+
+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.
+
+“Wow! Where are ye goin’ in such a hurry?” came a yell from aft of
+the tug as the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Paul and Ralph released their holds to wipe the spray from their eyes.
+
+Just at this moment something came up the river from the port side,
+long and slim, running directly across the path of the _Rocket_!
+
+The searchlight was shooting a little high, and its rays were cast
+upward instead of along the surface of the river.
+
+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.
+
+Frank saw two ends of it—recognized they were running squarely into
+the midships of a launch which was crossing their path slowly!
+
+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!
+
+Frank threw the _Rocket’s_ nose far over, the rudder acted instantly,
+the _Rocket_ careened, and Paul Bird went tumbling into the river.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+WILL THE RACE BE LOST?
+
+
+Ralph West hung to the tie-hook at the bow with all his might and
+main, and succeeded in staying on the _Rocket_.
+
+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.
+
+But Frank needed no cry, nor warning, to tell him what had happened.
+As he threw the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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?
+
+There was no time to look around. No time to go into reverse, for he
+would first have to check speed forward. No time to throw a lifeline
+or a belt. It was swifter, surer action that was demanded at this
+moment.
+
+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.
+
+Holding the wheel hard over, Frank sent the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+During this narrow circle, with centrifugal force tending to cast
+Ralph West off the bow of the _Rocket_, Lanky Wallace was holding
+tight to the gunwale, stooping low in an effort to keep his center of
+gravity close to the boat.
+
+As the _Rocket_ 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!
+
+“Paul! Paul! Are you all right?” yelled Frank as soon as he realized
+that his chance of seeing the boy was gone.
+
+“Here!” came a voice from the water, and Frank got the propeller into
+reverse, churning the Harrapin into a wild foam in order not to
+go past the point and also in order that he might not run down his
+friend.
+
+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.
+
+“Wow! Some wetting!” he gasped.
+
+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 _Rocket_ which averted the
+collision.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_Rocket_ to see that the lights were in order.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Frank put the propeller into gear again with the engine, and the
+_Rocket_ 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.
+
+As the _Rocket_ regained its speed, Frank carefully wiped the surface
+of the river clean with the bright 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.
+
+“Hope that delay won’t cost too much,” breathed Frank through gritted
+teeth as he firmly grasped the wheel and held the _Rocket_ down the
+center of the river.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“How long have we been coming? How far are we?” asked Lanky.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Don’t let that worry you, Frank,” replied Lanky reassuringly. “The
+_Rocket’s_ showing what’s in her. We’ll get back in nothing flat.”
+
+It was quite true that the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Time brings about a healing influence, and time also brings about a
+lack of watchfulness. Just so it was this night.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Like a huge mountain there suddenly loomed from out of the darkness a
+great bulk which blocked their path!
+
+“Look out!” yelled Lanky, as the thing came into sight.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The _Rocket’s_ 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.
+
+“Hi, there!” called a heavy voice from the wheel-room of the tug.
+“What’s down there? Why not a signal?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+There was a heartiness about the voice that was reassuring to the
+boys on the _Rocket’s_ deck—the heartiness that is so often met among
+sea-faring men.
+
+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.
+
+Then Frank got the _Rocket_ under way again, and was soon well
+past the obstacle, past the hairpin bend of the river, and headed
+downstream again toward Coville.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Fifteen minutes more of steady running of the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+It was the druggist with the package for the doctor at the hospital
+in Columbia.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Lanky reached out for the packages as the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“Gee, that was good of him,” Paul was munching on one of the
+sandwiches, the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Mile after mile slipped from under them, Frank’s grip on the wheel
+sure and steady, while Paul and Ralph lay back and went to sleep.
+Lanky, though, was alert to every movement of the boat.
+
+“Here’s where we passed that boat, about,” he muttered to Frank, when
+it seemed that many, many hours had passed.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+SCHEMING VOICES IN THE NIGHT
+
+
+“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.
+
+“Out of gas!” muttered Frank, though his reply was mechanical. He was
+already thinking hard as to what they should do.
+
+“Out of gas?” echoed the tall youth. “Oh, Frank, are you sure?”
+
+“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.
+
+The momentum of the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+“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, 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.”
+
+Already Frank was turning the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Lanky grasped the oar, as he had been bidden, and began using it to
+good effect, aiding the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+Ahead of him, since his eyes had become somewhat accustomed to the
+night-lights of the river, 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.
+
+The other boys, Paul and Ralph, were not conscious of any trouble,
+sleeping soundly on the small after deck.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Now came the problem in Frank’s mind of making a landing safely
+without bumping into other boats or without putting the _Rocket_
+against the landing with too much force, nose first.
+
+“Lanky! Quick! Get forward with your oar. 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!”
+
+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 _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket’s_ speed slowed down.
+
+Bump! It was only slight, not enough to do damage to the bow of the
+boat, but it awoke the sleeping Paul and Ralph.
+
+“What’s the matter?” cried Paul, rubbing his eyes and tried to locate
+himself. “Are we back in town?”
+
+“No, just at the island where we had that accident. Out of gas and
+trying to find some,” muttered Lanky Wallace.
+
+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 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?
+
+All four of the boys stepped to the landing, Lanky taking the end of
+the rope to make it fast to the tie-stake.
+
+“What’s the first move? Where do we find gas?” Paul asked.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Lanky Wallace started in one direction along the boat landing and
+Frank in the other.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Frank Allen stopped. Three men were there, he felt quite certain,
+though the others were but shadows dimly limned by the match’s glow.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The three men had become two. One of them had disappeared as another
+match lighted up the little area only a few yards away.
+
+“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.
+
+Forgotten for the moment was all thought of his errand, his quest for
+the necessary gasoline to get him back to Columbia.
+
+Not that he was forgetful of the duty owing to 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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+But that question was very soon answered. It seemed, and Frank often
+thought of it afterward, that all the Fates combined at this eerie
+hour of night to help him.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+A five-gallon can of gasoline aboard that boat!
+
+The thought struck Frank fairly in the middle of the brain, and he
+wondered whether it might be possible to get it.
+
+Just then the Fates stepped in.
+
+“Let’s walk along and see if we can help,” one of the men suggested.
+
+With this the two walked quietly away from Frank toward the center of
+the island.
+
+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?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+RACING BACK TO HIS FATHER
+
+
+In Frank’s mind there was no idea of theft. Just as he asked Lanky
+Wallace to do, he now did.
+
+When these two men had calmly and slowly sauntered away from the
+trees, Frank stole silently to the boat and climbed aboard.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Frank knew also that both of them, chums, were making their separate
+ways back to the boat, each with the needed fuel.
+
+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.
+
+Not resting a single time, he made his way back to the _Rocket_,
+moving swiftly, surely, as he recalled every step of the way along
+the wharf.
+
+Back at the _Rocket_ he found Paul Bird and Ralph West, each on the
+_qui vive_, 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.
+
+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.
+
+“Got a can of gas!” he muttered, an optimistic tone in his voice as
+Frank told the news to the waiting boys.
+
+“Did you whistle?” asked Paul.
+
+“No. That must have been Lanky. He’ll be along in a minute with
+another,” replied Frank.
+
+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!
+
+When Frank saw Lanky and Lanky saw Frank they each fell to chuckling.
+But Frank had the better of it.
+
+They hurried in their efforts and poured both cans into the gas tank
+aboard the _Rocket_—Lanky’s much-rehearsed duty of pushing off from
+land or wharf then became necessary, and the _Rocket_ moved out from
+the landing at the island.
+
+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.
+
+Frank alone knew that a race was on between the two craft. One of
+them had to win!
+
+“What is that boat?” asked Paul Bird.
+
+“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.
+
+“How about fixing our searchlight before we get going?” asked Lanky.
+“We’ll need it to make any speed.”
+
+“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.”
+
+Suiting the action to the word, Frank turned the _Rocket_ as he
+backed away from the landing, and soon was headed up the Harrapin.
+
+It was slow work, while Lanky and Paul worked on the connections at
+the light.
+
+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 _Rocket_ 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.
+
+The _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Immediately Frank gave the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Ahead of them, its beams darting here and there, 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Instantly the three boys were alert with interest.
+
+“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.”
+
+Nothing that Frank might have said could have brought to all three of
+the boys a greater shock of surprise than this.
+
+They started to ask questions, but he stopped them:
+
+“Wait a minute. Don’t be so fast with the questions. I’ll tell you
+all about it.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“But suppose—” started Lanky.
+
+“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 _Rocket_ yourselves. Lanky knows exactly where
+the place is, and you’ll have to depend on Lanky’s ability to run the
+_Rocket_.”
+
+“But, Frank,” asked Paul Bird, “what boat was that at the island—the
+one that’s ahead of us?”
+
+“The one from which I got the gasoline,” Frank answered, though his
+tone was a noncommittal one.
+
+“Don’t you know what the boat’s name is?” Paul continued.
+
+“It bore a mighty strong resemblance to the _Speedaway_,” came the
+low-spoken words from Frank.
+
+“The _Speedaway_!” All three of the boys muttered the word at the
+same time.
+
+“I said it very much resembled the _Speedaway_. 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.”
+
+“But,” urged Paul, “that is Fred Cunningham’s boat, and you did not
+say you saw him!”
+
+“I didn’t,” Frank held back from making any accusation 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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+All stood in silence while Frank held the wheel of the _Rocket_
+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.
+
+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 _Rocket_. Not for a moment did
+he consider the idea that the _Speedaway_, if that were the boat,
+could outdistance the _Rocket_. Frank Allen considered that the men
+ahead of him were merely the same distance ahead as at the start.
+
+“I wonder if that is the boat which crossed our path and caused Paul
+to go over,” remarked Ralph.
+
+“If it is, I want to catch the fellows that are in it and duck all of
+them,” Paul replied.
+
+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.
+
+“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 _Rocket_ will see them through. And I wish Paul and Ralph
+would find some gasoline and fill up the tank.”
+
+The boys agreed at once to this program.
+
+“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.
+
+As they neared the landing place at Columbia Frank cut off the
+engine, relying on its momentum to send the _Rocket_ to the
+boat-house, so that he could listen for the exhaust of the boat ahead
+of them.
+
+“That’s it!” cried Lanky, as all the boys plainly heard the steady
+put-put of an exhaust ahead of them up the river.
+
+“We’ve come along behind them,” Frank said quietly. “The _Rocket_
+must be a pretty speedy boat, after all.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Is he all right?” gasped Frank.
+
+“All right, Frank. We need this stimulant badly, but we’ve held him
+steady while you were gone. You made a quick trip.”
+
+“I thought we would never get back here! We had trouble.”
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“He’s winning.” He spoke very quietly.
+
+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.
+
+“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 getting that stimulant in time,” the doctor spoke in low tones.
+“Run along now and get a rest.”
+
+“Yes, go home by all means, and get a good sleep,” said Mrs. Allen.
+
+“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!”
+
+Frank walked slowly out of the room into the hall and down the long
+flight of steps to the first floor.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+He had the police! They were on their way to the _Rocket_! 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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE LOOT AND THE LOOTERS
+
+
+“Is there plenty of gas?” he asked as he leaped on the deck of the
+_Rocket_, addressing himself to Paul and Ralph.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“Good!” shouted Lanky.
+
+In another moment, with the police chief and his men aboard, the four
+boys got the _Rocket_ out into the stream, turned its nose against
+the current, and started away.
+
+“Now, Allen,” the chief edged over close to the 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.”
+
+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 _Rocket_ around and
+going at a better speed.
+
+“They’re ahead of us only so much as the time since we landed—how
+long has that been, fellows?” he asked the boys.
+
+“A little more than half an hour. Time has been going slow, all
+right, but things have been going fast.”
+
+Lanky had peered at his wrist watch before replying.
+
+“That’s long enough to put them up at Jed Marmette’s place,” Frank
+muttered, while the bow of the _Rocket_ 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.”
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+“Have you any idea who the men are?” asked the chief, when Frank had
+finished the story.
+
+“I haven’t the slightest, Mr. Berry. The only thing that I am
+guessing at is that the _Speedaway_ is the boat that left the island
+to-night and went up ahead of us.”
+
+“What about Fred Cunningham? Did you see him? Is he on the
+_Speedaway_? Surely, he is not mixed up in this thing!” and the chief
+of police showed his surprise.
+
+“No, I did not see Cunningham. I don’t know who is running the boat,
+and I am not sure it is the _Speedaway_. 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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ as it slipped its best along the Harrapin
+River.
+
+“I am trying to picture this whole thing over again. Will you tell me
+why you went back to the Parsons place?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“Why didn’t you tell me these things at the hearing?” asked the chief.
+
+“Because I wanted to tell what I knew and not what I was guessing at.
+Also, chief, don’t you remember that you practically accused Lanky
+and me of having a hand in the robbery?”
+
+The chief did not make answer to this.
+
+“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?”
+
+The chief was standing at the cockpit, saying nothing while Frank
+continued to pour out his thoughts.
+
+“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.”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+“I guess that part is right.” The chief spoke for the first time in
+several minutes.
+
+“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.”
+
+The chief started noticeably.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+“There’s the place!” Lanky called out in a hoarse whisper. “Shall I
+keep the spotlight open or shut it off?”
+
+Frank peered far over the wheel and they saw they had reached the
+island where the willows grew so far over the river.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Frank reduced the speed of the _Rocket_, 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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ touched at a firm
+spot.
+
+All crawled off the craft and made their way up to the bank through
+the bushes. They were about a hundred yards below the flicker of
+light which they could see moving toward the bank.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Now they were close enough to hear angry words passing between men,
+but not plainly enough to give them an understanding.
+
+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.
+
+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 leading, never having stopped his advance upon
+these men.
+
+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!
+
+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!
+
+“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.”
+
+“I told you I don’t know anything about no box,” sullenly replied the
+man in the center.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“You know that the chest was not in that place 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.
+
+Again the prisoner said he knew nothing of the box.
+
+“All right then, bo, we’ll see what we can do about it,” and he, too,
+set his suitcase on the ground.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The chief made no attempt to regain the silver which was in all
+probability in the three suitcases.
+
+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.
+
+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 of this conversation could be used against the
+thieves when the trial came.
+
+“Now, Jed, we’ll give you one more chance. When we leave here you’ve
+got no more than a Chinaman’s chance.”
+
+“I don’t know a thing about where that box is,” gruffly, morosely
+came the answer from the prisoner.
+
+“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.
+
+But Jed was quiet this time.
+
+“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.”
+
+Every one waited for the man to reply, which he did:
+
+“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!”
+
+He was accusing Frank Allen of getting the jewels!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE _ROCKET_ RACES THE _SPEEDAWAY_
+
+
+Lanky Wallace made a move as if would leap out and throttle the
+fellow for making such an accusation.
+
+Frank’s arm restrained him, though, and the chief of police quickly
+signaled for all of them to be quiet.
+
+“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.”
+
+The leader of the little gang spoke menacingly to the prisoner. There
+was no answer from Jed Marmette, and he continued:
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+“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!”
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+“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?”
+
+The leader was preparing to settle matters for Jed Marmette.
+
+“Throw up your hands—all of you!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Halt! Stand where you are or I’ll fire!” commanded Chief Berry. The
+fellow stood still. “Now, get your hands up, all of you!”
+
+This command was obeyed.
+
+“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.
+
+“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!”
+
+“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.
+
+Immediately the four boys started along the trail leading to the
+barn, through the barnyard, and thence up toward the grape arbor by
+the dilapidated old farmhouse. The flashlight helped them on the way.
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+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!
+
+Frank started the work post haste.
+
+“Paul, you and Ralph pull that flagstone aside. There is a new hole
+right there and the box is in there.”
+
+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.
+
+“You can’t get it away quickly enough that way. The hole is deep.
+Lanky, find a spade or a stick of wood.”
+
+In only a moment or two Lanky Wallace found a sharp stick that could
+be used for the purpose, and went at the work of uncovering the metal
+box with a willing vim.
+
+Pound after pound of the soft earth came out of the hole, but there
+was no evidence of the box containing the jewels.
+
+Frank was becoming nervous with the excitement of this search, and,
+particularly, because there was as yet no indication of success.
+
+“Push the stick straight down to see how far it goes before it
+strikes the box!” he hoarsely called to the boys.
+
+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.
+
+“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!”
+
+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 placed it in some other
+spot after they had gone.
+
+The three boys looked askance at Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+All four of the boys stood, rather breathless, at the doorway and
+peered in.
+
+“What’s that?” Frank nodded his head toward the broad, old-fashioned
+fireplace. “Go over there and see what those ashes are. It looks to
+me like burned string lying there.”
+
+Lanky was the first to get there. He knelt and studied the hearth
+closely, not disturbing anything with his hands.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Yep, look here!” It was Paul Bird who had found something else.
+“Here is a little fresh earth, yellow, too!”
+
+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!
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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 box somewhere in the house, so that he could guard it
+more closely.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The search was getting nowhere, excepting failure.
+
+“Let’s look in the stove,” said Lanky Wallace, as he reached for the
+lid-lifter and started to raise part of the top.
+
+“That gives me an idea!” cried Frank, wheeling on his heel and
+looking toward the bedroom which was now dark.
+
+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?
+
+“That box was black. All such document boxes are black—they are made
+of thin iron and are japanned, as they call it.”
+
+Frank was starting the disclosure of his idea by setting down a
+premise on which to work logically to his conclusion.
+
+“Now, if it is black, then the logical place to hide it is where
+everything else is black. Is that right?”
+
+“Up the flue!” exclaimed Lanky Wallace happily.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+He remembered seeing an old case-knife on the kitchen table, and one
+of the boys brought it quickly.
+
+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!
+
+They had expected this—yet they gasped in surprise and delight.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The flashlight darted hither and yon as the four boys found the trail
+and started for the barnyard.
+
+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!
+
+All was quiet for a moment, then they heard the call of one man.
+
+“Halt! Halt, or I’ll kill!”
+
+Another crack of a weapon tore through the air.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+“What’s the matter? Who is it?” cried Frank.
+
+“It’s Fred Cunningham! He was the third one. He got away and is on
+that motor boat!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+WHEN THE _ROCKET_ SHOWED HER SPEED
+
+
+It was the _Speedaway_! 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!
+
+Out into the stream the _Speedaway_ was moving, the engine running in
+excellent shape.
+
+“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!”
+
+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 _Rocket_
+was tied.
+
+Out on the river they could plainly hear the put-put of an exhaust.
+They reached the _Rocket_. Frank stopped a moment to listen.
+
+“He’s going downstream, chief. If I catch him I’ll take him to the
+jail. But how shall we get you?”
+
+“Send some one back here to get us,” replied the chief sharply, as he
+urged the boys to get aboard and start quickly.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+It was when he reached to take the flywheel that he laid down the
+package which he had been carrying.
+
+“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!”
+
+“Fine work, lad! Good luck to you! Catch that fellow and we’ve done a
+good day’s work!” called back Chief Berry.
+
+Lanky had the searchlight going in another second, flooding the
+river’s surface in front of them.
+
+Downstream they started, skirting past the island on the bank side
+instead of going around it, thus saving some distance.
+
+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 _Speedaway_ caused Frank to raise a
+question as to whether they might miss the wily fellow in front.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+It was not a meandering or shambling or loitering gait that the
+_Rocket_ 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.
+
+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 _Rocket_ to
+skim and glide along the Harrapin at the fastest rate of speed it had
+ever made.
+
+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.
+
+“See him?” asked Frank of Lanky, as that long lad twisted the
+searchlight from side to side.
+
+“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.”
+
+Just at this moment Frank cut off the motor. All was silent on the
+_Rocket_. From far ahead of them came the steady, rapidly firing
+put-put of the _Speedaway_! 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 by the drug. Then came a brief thanksgiving that his
+mother had reached home.
+
+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?
+
+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?
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+After all, was the lighting of the match on the river a signal?
+
+“Stop the motor again and see if we can hear him,” Lanky interrupted
+Frank’s thoughts.
+
+Frank cut off the engine, and from a distance down the river came the
+sound of the exhaust from the _Speedaway_. Instantly the engine was
+started again.
+
+“Was it closer this time?” asked Frank.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Well, he ran upriver without lights,” replied Frank. “I wondered
+while we were coming up behind him to-night how he was doing it.”
+
+There was no way to increase speed. The engine was doing its utmost.
+There was only one way to gain—except that the _Rocket_ might be
+faster than the _Speedaway_—and that was to beat Cunningham at
+maneuvering.
+
+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.
+
+Standing steadfastly at the wheel, his entire being now put into this
+purpose of catching the man on the _Speedaway_, Frank Allen cut off
+every inch in the bends and around the islands that could possibly be
+cut.
+
+“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.
+
+“Can’t—right now.” Frank smiled as the spirit of this race seized
+full control of him. He was determined, more than ever, to catch the
+_Speedaway_!
+
+Taking a long chance at losing some of the space that he felt he had
+gained, he suddenly cut off the engine and listened.
+
+They were nearer! They were gaining rapidly! There was no doubt of it
+now.
+
+The lights of Columbia came in sight on the far side of the river.
+Their engine was running full tilt and the _Rocket_ was bounding
+forward like a smoothly running race-horse.
+
+“We’ll catch him right in front of the town!” called Lanky Wallace as
+he swung the searchlight about the river.
+
+“Hope so. It’ll make things easy. But maybe he has a gun,” suggested
+Frank.
+
+“Couldn’t have, unless it was on the boat. The chief’s men disarmed
+them,” laconically replied Lanky.
+
+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 _Speedaway_ ahead of them, though they knew it must be
+close.
+
+“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.”
+
+Frank was once again making a short cut on the 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 _Rocket_ close up, and Lanky can take the tie line with him to
+tie him.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+Cunningham was peering back over his shoulder as the searchlight from
+the _Rocket_ lighted that part of the river.
+
+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.
+
+Lanky shot the search behind him.
+
+“Look out!” Frank fairly screamed as he saw a tremendous obstacle
+loom in front of the _Speedaway_, less than fifteen feet away—too
+close to permit the helmsman to again maneuver his boat.
+
+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.
+
+So exciting had been the chase that neither Fred 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.
+
+Crash! There was nothing else to be expected! Into the side of the
+big barge went the _Speedaway_, full power ahead!
+
+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
+_Rocket_.
+
+The bow of the _Speedaway_ telescoped as if a giant were squeezing
+down on it, and the stern dipped deeply into the stream.
+
+There was a flash of light for a second, then the gasoline tank
+exploded, spreading gasoline to all parts of the water.
+
+The _Rocket_, being far enough to the rear, could be properly
+maneuvered to avoid a repetition of such an accident.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Speedaway_ against the barge.
+
+The three boys watched closely as Lanky Wallace turned the
+searchlight from point to point, seeking to find the wreck.
+
+Débris was scattered over all parts of the rapidly flowing Harrapin.
+
+“Where is Cunningham?” asked Paul Bird.
+
+The wreck of the _Speedaway_ was slowly settling into the river as
+the water rushed into it and the weight of the engine helped to drag
+it down.
+
+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.
+
+Suddenly a head bobbed up out of the water. It was Fred Cunningham!
+There was a faint cry for help, and he sank again.
+
+“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.
+
+Splash! Over the side of the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+WHEN ALL ENDS WELL
+
+
+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.
+
+The explosion of the tank had spread blazing gasoline over the
+surface of the river; the wreck of the _Speedaway_ 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.
+
+Men aboard the barge were yelling and calling warnings and
+suggestions and the searchlight of the _Rocket_ danced about the
+water as Lanky tried to compensate for the failure of Paul Bird, not
+very expert at the wheel, to hold the _Rocket_ where it belonged.
+
+Down into the river went the intrepid boy, bent on bringing
+Cunningham to the surface if possible—and determined that it was
+possible.
+
+It seemed hours to the three boys on the _Rocket_ before they spied
+Frank’s head on the surface, bobbing suddenly from the water, and saw
+that he was tugging at a heavy load.
+
+“Here, Ralph! You take the searchlight! Keep it squarely on Frank and
+I’ll get the boat over!”
+
+Lanky got Ralph West into active service, and, as he felt he could
+handle the _Rocket_ better than Paul Bird was doing, he took hold of
+the wheel and brought the _Rocket_ around to the spot where Frank
+struggled to keep himself above water and hold the other at the same
+time.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“Let’s try to save him,” gasped Frank, unmindful of his own condition.
+
+A cry went up from the barge when they pulled the two boys over to
+the deck of the _Rocket_, and now the skipper of the towboat yelled:
+
+“Ahoy there! Can I help you any? Is he all right, or can you get him
+over to town?”
+
+“I’ll attend to him. Thank you ever so much!” called Frank, as
+three of the boys turned their attention to the injured lad. Lanky
+had already started the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Frank gave instructions to the others at once, with a snap like an
+officer, and they went to work with vim.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Into an automobile the boys placed Cunningham’s limp body quickly,
+Frank giving directions:
+
+“Get him to the hospital! Quick! Don’t waste a minute!”
+
+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.
+
+“I’m going back for the chief. You fellows want to come along?” he
+asked.
+
+The question was almost unnecessary. Lanky 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Before the _Rocket_ 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.
+
+Just as the sun broke through the far horizon and shot its first
+shafts of light into the world, the _Rocket_ got away from the
+landing at Columbia and started back to the Jed Marmette farm.
+
+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 principal ones were over except for Frank’s father,
+and the boys fell to chatting gaily while they raced the _Rocket_
+upstream as rapidly as the engine would take it.
+
+“Frank,” said Lanky, as they had gained their full speed and stood
+looking ahead of them along the river, “the _Rocket_ is a better boat
+than the _Speedaway_.”
+
+“Right now, you mean?” laughed Frank.
+
+“No, I mean she always was. She gained on the _Speedaway_ to-night in
+straight running.”
+
+“Not to-night.” Frank felt in a teasing humor.
+
+“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.”
+
+Full daylight was upon them as they made the landing at the Marmette
+place.
+
+“Did you catch him? I know you did!” called the chief as the _Rocket_
+warped into the shore.
+
+“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!”
+
+The chief had to hear the entire story before he brought his charges
+on board, which was done very shortly.
+
+The two strangers and Jed Marmette were led aboard, their arms
+pinioned and locked with handcuffs.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“What’s all the crowd about? Some one hurt?” asked Chief Berry,
+pointing to the throng that had gathered at the river in Columbia.
+
+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 _Rocket_, 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.
+
+“What’s it all about?” asked Frank.
+
+“Sounds as if they’re cheering this boat for some reason.” The chief
+seemed to understand.
+
+“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.
+
+Frank brought the _Rocket_ 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 _Rocket_
+slipped in easily, seeming still to have the same go and pep that it
+had in the beginning.
+
+“She doesn’t seem to be a bit tired,” said Frank.
+
+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.”
+
+“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.
+
+Instantly they were seized by friends in the crowd, and a thousand
+questions of all kinds were shot at them.
+
+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:
+
+“Doctor, how’s dad? Any good news this morning?”
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“You’re a real hero! I’m so glad you did all those things they tell
+about you,” she exclaimed, her eyes shining brightly.
+
+“Who tells about me?” asked Frank.
+
+“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.
+
+So that was what caused this crowd to be here!
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+“There’s Mrs. Parsons. She’s trying to attract your attention.”
+Minnie nudged Frank and nodded toward the street, where an
+automobile was moving slowly along.
+
+Looking that way, he could not help but see the excited beckonings of
+the wealthy widow up the river, who had been robbed.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“And that’s the way all of us feel,” spoke up Lanky.
+
+“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?”
+
+“Surely! We’ll make it day after to-morrow, too!” cried the young
+lady.
+
+“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 a nod to the driver
+of her car and waved the young people a happy good-bye.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+The New Western Series
+
+Exciting, Thrilling Stories of the Old West
+
+
+  TEXAS MEN AND TEXAS CATTLE                E. E. Harriman
+  THE SCOURGE OF THE LITTLE “C”            J. E. Grinstead
+  THE LONE HAND TRACKER                  William W. Winter
+  WHEN DEATH RODE THE RANGE              William W. Winter
+  RAW GOLD                                       Clem Yore
+  DON QUICKSHOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE       Stephen Chalmers
+  THE LAST SHOT                      William MacLeod Raine
+  STRAIGHT SHOOTING                           W. C. Tuttle
+  SAD SONTAG PLAYS HIS HUNCH                  W. C. Tuttle
+  THE SENTENCE OF THE SIX GUN               Anthony M. Rud
+  THE OUTLAWS OF FLOWER-POT CANYON      Frank C. Robertson
+  THE CLEAN-UP ON DEAD MAN              Frank C. Robertson
+  THE MASTER SQUATTER                      J. E. Grinstead
+  SIX GUN QUARANTINE                        E. E. Harriman
+  THE VALLEY OF SUSPICION                      J. U. Giesy
+  TREASURE TRAIL                     Robert Russell Strang
+  MOUNTAIN MEN                               Ernest Haycox
+  BATTLING HERDS                              W. C. Tuttle
+  HOSTAGES OF HATE                          Anthony M. Rud
+  TAKE-A-CHANCE TAMERLANE                 Stephen Chalmers
+  HASKELL OF THE DUG-OUT HILLS          Frank C. Robertson
+  GUNPOWDER VALLEY                         Murray Leinster
+  RUSTLERS’ RANGE                          George C. Shedd
+  TROUBLE TRAIL                                  Clem Yore
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._
+  Garden City       New York
+
+
+
+
+The Movie Boys Series
+
+_By_ VICTOR APPLETON
+
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS ON CALL,
+    or Filming the Perils of A Great City.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE WILD WEST,
+    or Stirring Days Among the Cowboys and Indians.
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE WRECKERS,
+    or Facing the Perils of the Deep.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE,
+    or Lively Times Among the Wild Beasts.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND,
+    or Filming Pictures and Strange Perils.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE FLOOD,
+    or Perilous Days on the Mighty Mississippi.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS IN PERIL,
+    or Strenuous Days Along the Panama Canal.
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER THE SEA,
+    or The Treasure of the Lost Ship.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER FIRE,
+    or The Search for the Stolen Film.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER UNCLE SAM,
+    or Taking Pictures for the Army.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS’ FIRST SHOWHOUSE,
+    or Fighting for a Foothold in Fairlands.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK,
+    or The Rival Photo Houses of the Boardwalk.
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS ON BROADWAY,
+    or The Mystery of the Missing Cash Box.
+
+  THE MOVIE BOYS’ OUTDOOR EXHIBITION,
+    or the Film that Solved the Mystery.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS’ NEW IDEA,
+    or Getting the Best of Their Enemies.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS AT THE BIG FAIR,
+    or The Greatest Film Ever Exhibited.
+  THE MOVIE BOYS’ WAR SPECTACLE,
+    or The Film that Won the Prize.
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Co., _Inc._
+  Garden City         New York
+
+
+
+
+The Dave Fearless Series
+
+_By_ ROY ROCKWOOD
+
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AFTER A SUNKEN TREASURE,
+      or The Rival Ocean Divers
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS ON A FLOATING ISLAND,
+      or The Cruise of the Treasure Ship
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AND THE CAVE OF MYSTERY,
+      or Adrift on the Pacific
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE ICEBERGS,
+      or The Secret of the Eskimo Igloo
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS WRECKED AMONG SAVAGES,
+      or The Captives of the Head Hunters
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AND HIS BIG RAFT,
+      or Alone on the Broad Pacific
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS ON VOLCANO ISLAND,
+      or The Magic Cave of Blue Fire
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS CAPTURED BY APES,
+      or In Gorilla Land
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AND THE MUTINEERS,
+      or Prisoners on the Ship of Death
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS UNDER THE OCEAN,
+      or The Treasure of the Lost Submarine
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS IN THE BLACK JUNGLE,
+      or Lost Among the Cannibals
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS NEAR THE SOUTH POLE,
+      or The Giant Whales of Snow Island
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS CAUGHT BY MALAY PIRATES,
+      or The Secret of Bamboo Island
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS ON THE SHIP OF MYSTERY,
+      or The Strange Hermit of Shark Cove
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS ON THE LOST BRIG,
+      or Abandoned in the Big Hurricane
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AT WHIRLPOOL POINT,
+      or The Mystery of the Water Caves
+
+  DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE CANNIBALS,
+      or The Defense of the Hut in the Swamp
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._
+  Garden City      New York
+
+
+
+
+The Larry Dexter Series
+
+_By_ RAYMOND SPERRY
+
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AT THE BIG FLOOD,
+      or The Perils of a Reporter
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE LAND SWINDLERS,
+      or Queer Adventures in a Great City
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE,
+      or The Great Search
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY,
+      or Exciting Days in Wall Street
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY,
+      or A Chase on the Great Lakes
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AT THE BATTLE FRONT,
+      or A War Correspondent’s Double Mission
+
+  LARRY DEXTER AND THE WARD DIAMONDS,
+      or The Young Reporter at Sea Cliff
+
+  LARRY DEXTER’S GREAT CHASE,
+      or The Young Reporter Across the Continent
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._
+  Garden City      New York
+
+
+
+
+_The_
+
+FRANK ALLEN SERIES
+
+_By_ GRAHAM B. FORBES
+
+
+  FRANK ALLEN’S SCHOOLDAYS,
+      or The All Around Rivals of Columbia High
+
+  FRANK ALLEN PLAYING TO WIN,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Ice
+
+  FRANK ALLEN IN WINTER SPORTS,
+      or Columbia High on Skates and Iceboats
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AND HIS RIVALS,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics
+
+  FRANK ALLEN—PITCHER,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond
+
+  FRANK ALLEN—HEAD OF THE CREW,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High on the River
+
+  FRANK ALLEN IN CAMP,
+      or Columbia High and the School League Rivals
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AT ROCKSPUR RANCH,
+      or The Old Cowboy’s Secret
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AT GOLD FORK,
+      or Locating the Lost Claim
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTORBOAT,
+      or Racing to Save a Life
+
+  FRANK ALLEN CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM,
+      or The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AT OLD MOOSE LAKE,
+      or The Trail in the Snow
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AT ZERO CAMP,
+      or The Queer Old Man of the Hills
+
+  FRANK ALLEN SNOWBOUND,
+      or Fighting for Life in the Big Blizzard
+
+  FRANK ALLEN AFTER BIG GAME,
+      or With Guns and Snowshoes in the Rockies
+
+  FRANK ALLEN WITH THE CIRCUS,
+      or The Old Ringmaster’s Secret
+
+  FRANK ALLEN PITCHING HIS BEST,
+      or The Baseball Rivals of Columbia
+
+
+  Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._
+  Garden City       New York
+
+
+
+
+  Transcriber’s Notes
+
+  pg 8 Changed Rocket was going up-stream to: upstream
+  pg 19 Changed between the Pasons to: Parsons
+  pg 23 Changed Lanky was siting to: sitting
+  pg 26 Changed for the police head-quarters to: headquarters
+  pg 36 Changed spread of carpetted to: carpeted
+  pg 93 Added missing quote before: Let’s get her out
+  pg 95 Changed period to comma: Perhaps they can, Frank replied
+  pg 99 Changed if you are geting to: getting
+  pg 102 Added comma after: finished their work
+  pg 121 Changed way along the trial to: trail
+  pg 121 Changed Rocket toward mid-stream to: midstream
+  pg 136 Added hyphen to: Racing to the boathouse: boat-house
+  pg 136 Added hyphen to: reached the boathouse: boat-house
+  pg 137 Changed Ralph lay pone to: prone
+  pg 143 Changed to be denied hat to: that
+  pg 145 Changed soon had him warmed, inprisoning to: imprisoning
+  pg 176 Changed colon to semi-colon after: seen in the trunk
+  pg 194 Changed switched on his flash-light to: flashlight
+  pg 212 Changed good news his morning to: this
+  pg 214 Added quote before: won’t you organize a party
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR
+BOAT ***
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will
+be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
+law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
+so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the
+United States without permission and without paying copyright
+royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
+of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
+concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
+and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
+the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
+of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
+copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
+easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
+of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
+Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may
+do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
+by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
+license, especially commercial redistribution.
+
+START: FULL LICENSE
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
+Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
+www.gutenberg.org/license.
+
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
+destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your
+possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
+Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
+by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the
+person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph
+1.E.8.
+
+1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this
+agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the
+Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
+of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual
+works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
+States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
+United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
+claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
+displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
+all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
+that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting
+free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm
+works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
+Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily
+comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
+same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when
+you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
+in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
+check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
+agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
+distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
+other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no
+representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
+country other than the United States.
+
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
+immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear
+prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work
+on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed,
+performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
+
+  This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+  most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
+  restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
+  under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
+  eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
+  United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
+  you are located before using this eBook.
+
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is
+derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
+contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
+copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
+the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
+redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
+either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
+obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
+trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
+additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
+will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works
+posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
+beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
+any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
+to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format
+other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official
+version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website
+(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
+to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
+of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain
+Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the
+full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+provided that:
+
+* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+  the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+  you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
+  to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has
+  agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
+  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
+  within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
+  legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
+  payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
+  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
+  Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
+  Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+  you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+  does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+  License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
+  copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
+  all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm
+  works.
+
+* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
+  any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+  electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
+  receipt of the work.
+
+* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+  distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than
+are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
+from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
+the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
+forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
+Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
+contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
+or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
+intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
+other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
+cannot be read by your equipment.
+
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
+with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
+with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
+lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
+or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
+opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
+the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
+without further opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO
+OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
+damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
+violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
+agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
+limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
+unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
+remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in
+accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
+production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
+including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
+the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
+or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or
+additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any
+Defect you cause.
+
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
+computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
+exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
+from people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future
+generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
+Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at
+www.gutenberg.org
+
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
+U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
+Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
+to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website
+and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
+
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without
+widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
+DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular
+state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
+donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be
+freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
+distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of
+volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
+the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
+necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
+edition.
+
+Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
+facility: www.gutenberg.org
+
+This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/69509-0.zip b/old/69509-0.zip
index 7f9f81c..7f9f81c 100644
--- a/69509-0.zip
+++ b/old/69509-0.zip
diff --git a/69509-h.zip b/old/69509-h.zip
index e62ed25..e62ed25 100644
--- a/69509-h.zip
+++ b/old/69509-h.zip
diff --git a/old/69509-h/69509-h.htm b/old/69509-h/69509-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1115396
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/69509-h/69509-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,8395 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8">
+    <title>
+      Frank Allen and his Motor Boat, by Graham B. 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&#8212;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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
+of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG&#8482;
+concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
+and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
+the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
+of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
+copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
+easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
+of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
+Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away&#8212;you may
+do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
+by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
+license, especially commercial redistribution.
+</div>
+
+<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div>
+<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div>
+<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+To protect the Project Gutenberg&#8482; mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase &#8220;Project
+Gutenberg&#8221;), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; License available with this file or online at
+www.gutenberg.org/license.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
+destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works in your
+possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
+by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person
+or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.B. &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works if you follow the terms of this
+agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (&#8220;the
+Foundation&#8221; or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
+of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works. Nearly all the individual
+works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
+States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
+United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
+claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
+displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
+all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
+that you will support the Project Gutenberg&#8482; mission of promoting
+free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; name associated with the work. You can easily
+comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
+same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License when
+you share it without charge with others.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
+in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
+check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
+agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
+distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
+other Project Gutenberg&#8482; work. The Foundation makes no
+representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
+country other than the United States.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
+immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License must appear
+prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg&#8482; work (any work
+on which the phrase &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; appears, or with which the
+phrase &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; is associated) is accessed, displayed,
+performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
+</div>
+
+<blockquote>
+  <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>
+</blockquote>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work is
+derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
+contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
+copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
+the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
+redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase &#8220;Project
+Gutenberg&#8221; associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
+either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
+obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
+additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
+will be linked to the Project Gutenberg&#8482; License for all works
+posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
+beginning of this work.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg&#8482;.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; License.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
+any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
+to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg&#8482; work in a format
+other than &#8220;Plain Vanilla ASCII&#8221; or other format used in the official
+version posted on the official Project Gutenberg&#8482; website
+(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
+to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
+of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original &#8220;Plain
+Vanilla ASCII&#8221; or other form. Any alternate format must include the
+full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg&#8482; works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
+provided that:
+</div>
+
+<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'>
+    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
+        &#8226; You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+        the use of Project Gutenberg&#8482; works calculated using the method
+        you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
+        to the owner of the Project Gutenberg&#8482; trademark, but he has
+        agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
+        Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
+        within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
+        legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
+        payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
+        Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
+        Section 4, &#8220;Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
+        Literary Archive Foundation.&#8221;
+    </div>
+
+    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
+        &#8226; You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+        you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+        does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+        License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
+        copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
+        all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+        works.
+    </div>
+
+    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
+        &#8226; You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
+        any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+        electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
+        receipt of the work.
+    </div>
+
+    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
+        &#8226; You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+        distribution of Project Gutenberg&#8482; works.
+    </div>
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work or group of works on different terms than
+are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
+from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
+the Project Gutenberg&#8482; trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
+forth in Section 3 below.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
+contain &#8220;Defects,&#8221; such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
+or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
+intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
+other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
+cannot be read by your equipment.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the &#8220;Right
+of Replacement or Refund&#8221; described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
+with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
+with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
+lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
+or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
+opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
+the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
+without further opportunities to fix the problem.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you &#8216;AS-IS&#8217;, WITH NO
+OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
+damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
+violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
+agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
+limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
+unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
+remaining provisions.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works in
+accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
+production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
+including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
+the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
+or any Project Gutenberg&#8482; work, (b) alteration, modification, or
+additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg&#8482; work, and (c) any
+Defect you cause.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
+computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
+exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
+from people in all walks of life.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg&#8482;&#8217;s
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg&#8482; collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg&#8482; and future
+generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
+Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation&#8217;s EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
+U.S. federal laws and your state&#8217;s laws.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+The Foundation&#8217;s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
+Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
+to date contact information can be found at the Foundation&#8217;s website
+and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; depends upon and cannot survive without widespread
+public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
+DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state
+visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
+donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; concept of a library of electronic works that could be
+freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
+distributed Project Gutenberg&#8482; eBooks with only a loose network of
+volunteer support.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
+the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
+necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
+edition.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
+facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+This website includes information about Project Gutenberg&#8482;,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+</div>
+
+</div>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/old/69509-h/images/bookmakers.jpg b/old/69509-h/images/bookmakers.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d98b5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/69509-h/images/bookmakers.jpg
diff --git a/old/69509-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/69509-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9034e63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/69509-h/images/cover.jpg
diff --git a/old/69509-h/images/frontis.jpg b/old/69509-h/images/frontis.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f09243
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/69509-h/images/frontis.jpg