A Midnight Visitor
Rex soon took leave of the girls, saying that he intended to return to
the police station for another talk with the authorities, and then go in
search of the Burnett motor boat which had been cut loose from The Flora.
“I can’t thank you enough for all the trouble you’re taking,” Enid told
him gratefully.
“Don’t thank me until I really help you,” he returned. “I probably won’t
find the boat for those men may have stolen it instead of cutting it
adrift.”
After Rex had gone there was little for the girls to do. Madge thought it
best that they leave Mr. Burnett’s room untouched lest the police wish to
examine it again and Enid had no desire to put the cabin to rights. She
paced nervously up and down deck, avoiding that section of the yacht.
Madge begged her to lie down for a few hours and she reluctantly went to
her own cabin. After a time she fell into a troubled sleep and did not
awaken until her chum shook her gently.
“Wake up, Enid. Rex is here and he’s found the motor boat.”
Enid hastily straightened her rumpled hair and hurried out upon deck. Rex
already had come aboard after tying up the recovered boat.
“Where did you find it?” Enid questioned eagerly.
“Out near Culver’s Island. I figured that if it had been left to drift,
the current would carry it that way. I cruised around in my amphibian
until I sighted it and then notified the Coast Guard. By the time I had
gone home for my own motor boat they had recovered it, so I merely towed
it out here.”
“Did you examine it, for possible clues?” Madge inquired.
“Yes, I looked it over. If those kidnappers used the boat they were smart
enough not to leave any thing behind that would identify them. However,
it’s my guess they made their get-away in their own boat and merely cut
this one adrift as an additional precaution against being followed.”
“I don’t see how they figured I could follow them when I was tied hand
and foot and locked in that stifling closet,” Enid said bitterly, “and to
know that Father is in their power! They may mistreat him!”
“Not if they are after a large ransom,” Rex suggested, in an effort to
cheer her. “You may be sure of that.”
“The police said probably we would receive some communication within
twenty-four hours,” Enid declared, more hopefully. “I wonder how much
they’ll want?”
Rex met Madge’s eyes and he read the thought that had flashed through her
mind. She had begun to wonder if a communication ever would be received.
From the first, it had seemed unlikely to her that the kidnapping had
been committed for the sole purpose of securing ransom. She felt there
might be a more sinister motive behind the crime.
Before the conversation could be resumed, the sound of a boat grating
against the side of the yacht, drew the trio to the railing. Unobserved
by them, a craft had made fast to the yacht, and now they saw they were
to entertain representatives of the press. The reporters swarmed aboard
without waiting for an invitation, bombarding the girls with terse
questions. A photographer insisted upon taking their pictures. Likewise,
he photographed the yacht and Mr. Burnett’s cabin. Only the arrival of a
second boat, containing Mr. Randall and two other detectives, brought the
ordeal to an end.
“Have you learned anything new?” Enid inquired hopefully of Mr. Randall,
after the reporters had gone.
“We’re making progress,” he informed. “Your father’s description has been
broadcast over the radio and the police teletypes. I’ve brought some
pictures from the Rogues Gallery that I want you to try to identify.”
For the next fifteen minutes Enid studied photographs of noted criminals
known to have records for kidnapping, but as each was presented to her,
she only shook her head.
“I’m afraid I can’t be of much help. You see, I caught such a fleeting
glance of the two men.”
After the detective had returned to shore somewhat disappointed at her
failure to identify any of the photographs, Rex said that he too must
leave.
“Surely, you girls aren’t intending to stay here alone tonight?” he
inquired.
Enid and Madge had made no plans but now that they considered it, they
were reluctant to leave the yacht. Rex suggested that his mother would be
pleased to have them stay at the Stewart home, but the girls felt they
could not accept.
“We might possibly get word from Father during the night,” Enid
explained, “and anyway, the cook and our sailors will be coming back
early in the morning. I must be here to tell them what has happened.”
“I wish you had asked for a police guard,” Rex returned with a troubled
frown. “I don’t like the idea of you staying here alone.”
“We’re not cut off from the mainland now that we have the motor boat,”
Madge pointed out. “Honestly, we’re not a bit afraid.”
In the end they persuaded him to their way of thinking, but as he left,
he announced that he intended to keep watch of the yacht during the early
part of the night.
As it grew dusk, Madge prepared supper. Enid tried to help but could not
keep her mind on what she was doing. After wiping the dishes, they
wrapped themselves in steamer rugs and sat out on deck. For a long time
they watched the twinkling shore lights. Once they heard the drone of an
airplane overhead and imagined that it might be Rex.
In spite of their declaration to the contrary, the girls were not
entirely easy in their minds. The very quiet of the yacht was disturbing.
The night had closed in dark and threatening; black shadows lurked
everywhere.
At ten o’clock they decided to turn in. Enid was so tired and worn out
that she dropped asleep almost at once. Madge rolled and tossed for the
better part of an hour. At last, she too dozed off.
She had no way of knowing how long she slept, but suddenly she found
herself sitting upright in bed. What had awakened her? She glanced at her
companion. Enid was sleeping peacefully.
After a moment, she sank back against the pillows, but scarcely had her
eyes closed than she was startled by a peculiar sound. A boat was
scraping against the side of the yacht!
Cold shivers ran over her body and she resisted the temptation to burrow
down beneath the blankets.
“Enid, wake up!” she whispered, shaking her chum roughly by the arm.
Enid stirred and as she was shaken again, opened her eyes.
“What’s the matter?” she murmured drowsily.
“Hush!” Madge warned in an undertone. There was no need to say more for
by this time Enid had fully awakened.
Both girls listened intently. Footsteps could be heard plainly on the
deck. Someone had boarded the boat!
“Perhaps it’s one of the sailors,” Enid whispered, but her voice
quavered.
“We must see!” Madge returned. “Come on!”
Enid gripped her hand and tried to hold her back. “Oh, I’m afraid!”
“Then I’ll go alone.”
But Enid would not stay behind. As Madge quietly slipped out of bed, she
was close beside her. Clinging together, they crept to the door and
listened. They could hear the footsteps more distinctly now.
Madge opened the cabin door a crack and peered out. At first she saw
nothing, then as her eyes became more accustomed to the dark, she beheld
the figure of a man. She saw him pause, look searchingly about and then
swiftly enter Mr. Burnett’s cabin.
For an instant she was too startled to move. Then she whispered into her
chum’s ear.
“Now is our chance! We must steal out there and lock him in!”