PADDLING ACROSS LAKE SURPRISE
"What do you think, Mr. Dodd? Was that story told by Fletcher the truth,
or just the imagination of a dying man?" asked Frank.
The sheriff scratched his head. His air was that of a man who, being
cautious by nature, is slow to commit himself.
"To tell you the honest truth, boys, I just don't know what to think.
The thing has got me locoed, as they say out West. It looks as if Lasher
can't find what he is hunting for. The only thing for me to do is to lay
low until he shows his hand, and then try to gather him in. I know my
duty, and nothing can sheer me off, no matter how sorry I might feel for
the poor chap."
The dinner was finished, and all pronounced it fine.
"Never ate better bass in my life, and that coon sure knows how to cook
'em, too," declared the sheriff heartily. And Adolphus grinned with
delight to be thus publicly complimented by an officer of the State.
After a while the two men wandered off, though promising to return by
night, as another meal like that was a great temptation, and the
invitation pressing.
The boys went in a bunch to assist Will and Bluff to clean out the snake
den, as a means for passing time and doing a good deed. More brush was
dragged over and thrown down into the hole, regardless of the angry
hissing of the numerous ugly crawlers to be seen sunning themselves
there.
"All ready for the grand finale!" shouted Bluff, after Will had secured
a picture of the whole scene.
Upon which burning bunches of dead grass were thrown in. The brush took
fire fairly well, being pretty dry, and presently a leaping furnace of
flames announced the end of the snakes' paradise. Possibly not one of
them could escape the terrific scorching, unless their holes ran deeper
into the rocks than the boys imagined.
"That job is done, and well done. Now what?" asked Bluff.
Frank announced that he had several small tasks which he wanted to
attend to. Jerry threw his gun over his shoulder and sauntered forth for
a ramble, but did not mean to shoot any game he might happen to run
across, being a believer in the laws that protect deer, grouse,
rabbits, and such, for the better part of the year.
On his part, Bluff had some work to do in connection with the bearskin
which he was trying to cure, after certain directions given by old Jesse
Wilcox, the veteran trapper, whom the boys had visited the preceding
fall.
Will, of course, could always find something to do in connection with
his photographic work, for he carried a little tank along with him into
the woods, and in this he developed his films, day or night.
Jed seemed quite satisfied to keep busy around the fire. He assisted
Adolphus, and, indeed, was ready to anticipate the needs of any of these
fine fellows whose kindness to a poor waif would never be forgotten.
It was about an hour before sunset that Frank called out to him:
"Jed! Come here, please!"
The lad saw a smile of satisfaction on Frank's face, and somehow he
seemed to be thrilled with a sudden hope.
"You never knew that the back of this locket could be detached--that is,
removed--did you?" asked Frank.
"No. Can it?" asked the other, his eyes full of eager anticipation.
"Yes. I suspected that it might, and on examining it closely saw how it
could be done. With my knife-blade I removed the back, and found this."
He held up a paper. It was very thin, and seemed to be covered with
printing, together with some writing.
"Oh! What is it?" gasped the little chap, staring at the document, which
really seemed too large to have occupied so small a space in the locket.
"As far as I can make out, it represents stock to the extent of five
hundred shares in the Consolidated Hecla Gold Mine. Bushels of just such
stuff is printed every year, for the purpose of defrauding innocent
people. Perhaps this was sold to your father for the same purpose, Jed,"
said Frank.
"Then you believe it ain't worth anything?" remarked the boy, with keen
disappointment.
"I didn't say that. At the time, perhaps, it wasn't worth the paper it
was printed on; but conditions may have changed. Possibly they have made
a valuable strike at the mines of the Consolidated Hecla. The eagerness
of your uncle to get possession of this document would seem to prove
that."
"But how would he know this paper was in my locket?" went on the boy.
"That's something I can't say. He evidently found it out somehow or
other, or he wouldn't have been so determined to get possession of the
locket. Its value in dollars and cents wouldn't amount to much, you see.
Now, as soon as I get back home I shall see Jerry's father, who is a
banker, and he can tell us if there is any real value attached to this
stock. If so, you are a lucky fellow, Jed."
"And I owe it all to you, Frank, you and the rest. How can I ever thank
you for being so kind?" he cried, seizing the other's hand.
"Please don't try, Jed. Why, we haven't done anything worth mentioning;
it was just fun to upset the calculations of your old uncle. In fact, we
feel under obligations to you for the chance."
Just then Mr. Dodd appeared once more, with his deputy.
"No luck so far, but we live in hopes of finding our man sooner or
later. We mean to keep an eye on those old ruins until something turns
up. Room for two at your fire to-night, boys?" said the sheriff as he
came up.
Of course they greeted him warmly. Mr. Dodd was a man whom the boys all
liked, because he always felt a sympathetic interest in their sports
and games, never forgetting, as some men do, that he was once a boy
himself.
Adolphus, spurred on by the compliment of the noon meal, excelled
himself in the effort to please. The result was a bumper spread, which
called forth much praise all around.
They also spent a very pleasant evening, chatting on various subjects.
Mr. Dodd was plainly not worrying. He cast frequent glances across the
lake, as if half expecting to see some sort of signal from that quarter,
but none came.
Nor was there any alarm during the night. In fact, with two officers of
the law in their midst the boys did not even bother keeping watch.
Another morning found them again gathered around the board, discussing
heaping piles of the most delicious flapjacks ever eaten in any camp. It
was simply astonishing how many each of those hungry boys put away; and
as for the two guests, they fairly showered the cook with compliments,
until he seemed to be shaking with good-humor.
"Now we must say good-by for a while, boys. It was a bully time we had
with you. Perhaps we may look in again some day. Be good to yourselves."
With which the worthy sheriff stalked away.
An hour later, Frank, finding that the boys seemed to stick to the camp
as if expecting him to suggest something, called them together.
"What do you say, fellows, that we take the canoes and paddle across the
lake to where he said the ruins of the old Fletcher home lie?"
"Hear! hear! That just suits my blood!" declared Bluff.
"And I'm in the racket, you understand," observed Jerry, picking up his
gun.
"Please don't think of leaving me behind. Now the chances are there will
be something worth while to snap off over there, so if none of you
object I'm going to carry my camera along."
Of course this was from Will, and as there were no protests, he did it,
too.
Adolphus and Jed were left in charge of the camp. With the sheriff's
posse roaming the neighborhood, there did not seem to be any likelihood
of unwelcome visitors while they were away. Besides, Bluff had kindly
consented to leave his gun in his tent, and Jed knew how to fire the
same. Three shots in rapid order would bring the quartet back in
double-quick time.
Landing on the other side, they made their way up the rise. The place
was overgrown with briars and stubborn thickets, but they knew it had
once been cleared, so they were not long in discovering the ruins of the
house.
Some vandal had fired it, perhaps long after it had been abandoned as a
place of residence, so that with the foundations only charred remnants
of the building were to be seen.
Though the boys looked around eagerly, expecting to see some sign of the
sheriff or his men, they failed to detect anything to indicate the
presence of others.
"Looks pretty dismal around here, and it is hard to believe that once,
many years ago, it had a busy family working to clear off the land and
plant it," remarked Frank, who had a little of the romantic mixed with
his practical ideas.
"Stand still, fellows. I've got you grouped nicely, now. Look pleasant,
and as if you didn't know you were being snapped. There you are, with
the ruins as a background. Thank you."
"Frank, there's some one watching us from the bushes yonder," whispered
Bluff.
"You're right, and I think I can guess. Jerry, you know! Call him over
here. I've an idea he wants to speak to us, and yet seems afraid, for
some reason. Perhaps he knows the sheriff is around somewhere," said
Frank.
Upon which Jerry took a few steps forward, and waving his hand, called
out:
"Andy! No use hiding; we see you! Come here!"