CHAPTER XVII--JOE PLAYS JUSTICE A SCURVY TRICK
Over a sea "as smooth as glass," that fateful Monday morning, the"Meteor" made a dashing run to Wood's Hole. It was just five minutes ofseven by the clock when the swift craft tied up at the village on themainland.
All through the trip Horace Dunstan had remained seated in one of thearmchairs in the cockpit aft. His head had been bowed in sorrow. Hisface was haggard and ashen, for he had not slept through the night.
On the pier awaiting him stood Mr. Crane, his lawyer, and Musgrave, whohad been in charge of the force of detectives who had been vainlyseeking the young heir.
"You have not a word of hope, of course, gentlemen?" asked Mr. Dunstanin a weak voice.
"There is no news whatever," replied Musgrave.
"Our only hope," added Crane, "lies in the barest possibility that thecourt may find some legal excuse for adjourning the matter for a fewdays and giving us a chance for a longer hunt."
"May I put in a word?" asked Tom, who had been standing close by.
"Yes," assented Horace Dunstan.
"Now I know, and we all know," Halstead went on, "that Ted Dunstan hasbeen illegally spirited away and that it is simply impossible for hisfather to produce him in court. It is no guess-work, for I have seen TedDunstan, alive, and with Mr. Dunstan's enemies. If you were to make theclaim, Mr. Crane, and use me as a witness, would that help matters anyin inducing the court to adjourn the matter? Could the court thenlegally postpone the bringing of the Dunstan heir into view?"
"I'm afraid not," replied the great lawyer thoughtfully. "In the firstplace, the court would have only Mr. Dunstan's word for it that he isreally anxious to produce his son in court. There would be no evidencethat could corroborate Mr. Dunstan's statement. As to your testimony,Captain Halstead, if it were admitted at all, it would work us thegreatest harm, for you would be obliged to say, under oath, that Tedtold you he was with those other people by his own choice as well as athis father's command."
Mr. Musgrave nodded. Horace Dunstan bowed his stricken head lower.
"I understand the force of what you say, Mr. Crane," Tom nodded.
"Hush! Here comes Judge Swan now," whispered the lawyer. "What can he bedoing here?"
A portly, white-haired man, yet with a fresh, young-looking face, hadjust stepped onto the pier and came toward them. He was judge of theprobate court over at Nantucket.
"Good morning, gentlemen," he greeted pleasantly. Then, by a nod, hedrew Lawyer Crane toward him, though the judge spoke loudly enough forthe rest to hear.
"Are you going to have a case to bring before me to-day, Mr. Crane?"
"Provided we can find young Theodore Dunstan in time, your honor,"answered the lawyer. "Our search has been unceasing."
"I wish you the utmost measure of good fortune, then," replied JudgeSwan. "Under the terms of the will, as I understand them, this is thelast day of grace that you have. But remember, court will be open up tothe minute of four this afternoon."
Mr. Crane thanked his honor. Every hearer present, however, realizedthat Judge Swan had answered, as far as his dignity and officialposition permitted, how any appeal for postponement must be answeredfrom the bench. The motion would be denied.
The justice turned to stroll apart from the rest, but the lawyer kept athis side.
"Judge," he asked in an undertone, "since you know the whole of ourpainful predicament, can you offer me any suggestion?"
"The most I can say, because it is the most I am able to say," murmuredthe judge, "is that I sincerely trust that Mr. Dunstan and yourself willbe able to produce young Theodore in court before four o'clock thisafternoon."
They soon turned, strolling back to the group.
"I feel a good deal annoyed," said Judge Swan, presently. "I was inBoston yesterday. My friend, Mr. Percival, was to start over toNantucket with me at six this morning, in order that I might open courtat nine o'clock. Mr. Percival wired me yesterday that his launch hadbroken down, but the telegram must have reached Boston after I had goneto the train. So I must go over on the forenoon passenger steamer, Ifear."
"If we were going back sooner," explained Mr. Crane, "my client would bemost happy to give you a seat on his boat. But we feel that, if youngTheodore Dunstan is found, it will be on the mainland. So we are waitinguntil the last moment."
"Yet, if heaven favors us," broke in Horace Dunstan, "we could take myson over on the regular forenoon passenger boat, and be in court thisafternoon. The 'Meteor' could be back here soon after the passenger boatleaves. So, Judge, may I offer you the use of the 'Meteor?'"
"Do you mean that?" asked Judge Swan, looking at the owner in delight.
"Most assuredly," replied Mr. Dunstan. "I shall be glad, judge, if youwill make use of my boat."
"Then I shall accept with great pleasure," replied his honor. "I knowhow swift your boat is."
"Then, captain," said Mr. Dunstan, turning to Halstead, "you understandyour instructions, which are to get Judge Swan in Nantucket before nineo'clock this morning."
"It's the only boat in these waters that could do it," Tom replied, withpardonable pride, as he sprang aboard.
"Come back, captain, as soon as you land his honor," was Mr. Dunstan'sparting word. "If you pass the passenger steamer, watch for me at herrail. I may signal you."
Before she had left the pier three hundred yards behind, the nimblemotor boat was going at better than twenty miles an hour. Gradually thespeed was increased. Judge Swan stood on the bridge deck beside Tom.
"It is really exciting to travel on a boat like this," commented hishonor, presently. "You must enjoy it, captain."
"I do sir, when the engine works all right, which it does usually,"Halstead answered.
The sea as smooth as ever, and no hindering breeze blowing, the craftbehaved splendidly, making within a notch of her best speed. In timethey left Martha's Vineyard behind, and headed out toward the big, greenisland of Nantucket.
"The engine isn't likely to break down this morning, is she?" asked thejudge, who had just returned from a smoke aft.
"I don't think so, sir. It would make a sad mix-up in your court work ifwe got stuck out here on the open sea, wouldn't it, sir?"
"I imagine it would annoy my clerk a good deal," replied Judge Swan,reflectively. "He would have to sit in court all day without me, andthen, when four o'clock came, he would, in my absence, be obliged todeclare court adjourned until nine o'clock to-morrow morning."
"And in that case there wouldn't be any legal session of the courtto-day, would there, sir?"
"There couldn't be a legal session in my absence. However, we'll trustthat your engine won't meet with any mishap," replied Judge Swan,smiling and turning away.
Tom Halstead's hands began to tremble as he guided the wheel. There wasa queer look in his eyes; his head was whirling a bit.
Had Judge Swan purposely given him a hint? It was a staggering thought.Halstead, when in doubt, was likely to think and act quickly.
"Come and relieve me at the wheel for a few moments, Jed," he called.Then, in a twinkling, the young skipper was down in the engine room.
"Joe," he whispered, breathlessly, to his chum, "the judge just informedme that, if anything went wrong with the engine, and we couldn't makeNantucket before four o'clock, there would be no legal session ofprobate court."
"Did he mean that for a hint?" queried Joe, his look becoming keen.
"I'll leave that for you to figure out, chum."
"Where are we, now?" was Dawson's next question.
Halstead informed him.
"Say," muttered Joe, "I wish you'd go up on deck and stay there a while.I want to attend to my work for a while."
Tom went back up on deck, lounging near Jed, at the wheel. It wasn'tlong before the speed slackened. Then, the boat slowed down to mereheadway. Even this soon ceased.
"I'll try not to hinder you long," called up Joe, showing his face inthe hatchway. "I think I can soon get the engine fixed."
"Us
e all the speed you can, Joe, but do it well, whatever has to bedone," Tom answered. Then he made his way aft to report to Judge Swanthat the engineer had said he hoped the motor would soon be in orderagain.
"Are there any books aboard?" his honor wanted to know.
"There's a book-shelf in the cabin, sir."
Judge Swan disappeared into the cabin. The next time Halstead looked afthe saw the judge snug in one of the armchairs, reading.
The place was ideal for such a breakdown. The "Meteor" lay almostmotionless upon the smooth sea, miles from land, with no troublesomereefs near. Under the awnings it was delightfully cool.
For an hour Joe remained in the motor room, neither Tom nor Jedbothering him with their presence. Then Tom went aft to see if theirguest was comfortable. Judge Swan looked up with a pleasant smile.
"If I didn't have that session of court on hand, captain, I wouldn'tmind if this break lasted all day."
"It wouldn't be bad," the young skipper assented. "We have a good larderand a fine young cook aboard."
"How serious is the break?" inquired his honor.
"Why, Dawson reports that he hopes very soon to be under way again."
"I hope he won't hurry enough to interfere with thorough repair,"pursued Judge Swan.
When Tom went forward again it occurred to him to take a look down intothe engine room. The sight that met his gaze was a surprising one. Joewas lying on his back on one of the lockers, the first time he had everbeen asleep at his post!
The time dragged on slowly. His honor, being wholly comfortable and welloccupied where he was, didn't come forward to ask any questions.
"There's the forenoon boat coming," whispered Jed, at last.
"Confound it," muttered Tom. "I wish I had thought to keep better out ofher track."
The passenger steamer soon signaled. Tom answered on the auto whistle.
Then the passenger steamer ran in closer to the motor boat. The captainof the steamer, standing before the pilot house, megaphone in hand,called over the waters:
"Are you in distress?"
"Only a temporary break in the engine," Tom answered, through hismegaphone.
"Do you need any assistance?"
"No, thank you," Halstead responded.
"Do you wish to transfer any passengers?"
Judge Swan came forward to the young skipper. At the same time Tom sawMr. Dunstan and Mr. Crane at the rail, among the boat's passengers.
"How soon before you'll be under way, Captain Halstead?" asked hishonor.
Now, Joe being fast asleep, Halstead had to answer for his friend.
"Judge, we ought to be under way soon."
"Then tell the captain of the steamer you've no passengers to transfer,"directed his honor, next starting aft once more.
"No passengers to transfer, captain, thank you," Tom answered.
"All right, 'Meteor.' Wish you good luck!" A moment later, after bothcraft had whistled, the passenger steamer continued on her way.
Now, it was too bad, of course, but noon came and found the "Meteor"still unable to proceed. Soon after that Jed appeared, setting up atable in the cockpit. A cloth was laid, and a pleasing luncheon spreadbefore the delayed judge. Joe came to at the first mention of food, andthe three members of the crew ate forward.
"It's a mean thing to have such a break out on the open," Joecomplained, as he finished eating. "However, I'll do the best I can foryou."
The afternoon began to slip by. It was considerably after three o'clockwhen Joe thrust his head up through the hatchway to say:
"Captain, if you'll be satisfied to go at slow speed, I think we canmake a start now."
"Then start her, and keep to whatever speed your judgment decides upon,"Tom replied. Making his way aft he informed Judge Swan.
"I am delighted to hear it, of course," replied that gentleman. "I must,however, give you credit for commanding a boat aboard which a verypleasant day of idleness can be enjoyed."
The "Meteor" was soon going at a speed that seemed lame and halting forher. She made the harbor at Nantucket, however, at 4.20, and landed herdistinguished passenger. Judge Swan shook hands with all three boys,thanking them for his pleasant day.
Knowing that Mr. Dunstan was not at Wood's Hole, Tom decided to make therun straight to the home pier. Leaving Jed at the wheel, after they wereout of the harbor, the young skipper went below.
"Joe," he asked soon, "what was wrong with the engine?"
"The vaporizer," Joe replied briefly.
"What ailed it?"
"Why, you see," Dawson replied calmly, "after the speed stopped Idisconnected the vaporizer and put it in one of the lockers. Then,somehow, I forgot all about that vaporizer for some hours. When Ithought of it I got it out of the locker, wiped it off on some waste,connected it again--and then the engine began to behave fairly well."
Tom's lips puckered. Whistling, he turned his face away from his chum,looking out through one of the portholes.
"What's the matter?" inquired Dawson, looking up in some surprise.
"Joe," retorted the young skipper, "don't you think that was rather ascurvy trick to play on justice?"
"Trick?" repeated Joe in an injured voice. "Well, if you call that a'trick,' my captain, then all I have to say is that Judge Swan didn'tseem to be very much upset about it."
"There having been no legal session of probate court to-day," Tom wenton, "that gives our friends one day of grace in which to find TedDunstan."
"I wish it were a year more, instead of a day," sighed Dawson.
"I wonder," muttered Tom, as though talking to himself. "I wonderwhether Judge Swan hinted himself aboard the 'Meteor' just so Joe couldplay that scurvy, unmannerly trick against the blind goddess of justice?I wonder!"