CHAPTER 24 _DREDGING THE RIVER_
Sally moaned softly but did not stir as Penny tried to pull her to asitting position. The heat now was almost unbearably intense, with flyingbrands dropping everywhere. But near the floor, the air was better, andPenny drew it in by deep gulps.
Jack's groping hand encountered the sink. Soaking his coat with waterfrom one of the taps, he gave it to Penny to protect her head andshoulders.
"Help me get Sally onto my back in a Fireman's carry," he gasped. "We canmake it."
The confidence in Jack's voice gave Penny new courage and strength. As heknelt down on the floor, she dragged Sally onto his back. Holding theinert body high on his shoulders, he staggered across the kitchen.
Penny guided him to the door. Flames had eaten into the living room, anda small portion of the floor had fallen through. To reach the exit wasimpossible.
"A window!" Jack directed.
Penny could see none, so dense was the smoke, but she remembered how theroom had been laid out, and pulled Jack to an outer wall. Her exploringhand encountered a window sill, but she could not get the sash up.
In desperation, she kicked out the glass. A rush of cool, sweet airstruck her face. Filling her lungs, she turned to help Jack with hisburden. Before she could grasp him, he sagged slowly to the floor.
Thrusting her head through the broken window, Penny shouted for help.
Willing hands lifted her to safety, and two men climbed through thewindow to bring out Jack and Sally. Both were carried some distance fromthe blazing building to an automobile where they were revived.
However, Sally was in need of medical attention. Hair and eyebrows hadbeen singed half away, and more serious, her hands and arms were severelyburned. Jack and Penny rode with her to the hospital when the ambulancefinally came.
Not until hours later, after Captain Barker had been summoned, did Sallyknow anyone. Heavily bandaged, with her father, Jack, and Penny at herbedside, she opened her eyes and gave them a half-hearted grin.
"The _Florence_?" she whispered.
"Safely beached on a shoal," Captain Barker assured her tenderly."There's nothing to worry about. All the passengers have been taken tohospitals or to their homes. A preliminary check has shown only one manlost, an engineer who was trapped at his post when the explosion occurredaboard the _Florence_."
"Pop, you were marvelous," Sally whispered. "You saved the waterfront."
"And nearly lost a daughter. Sally, why did you try to get into thatburning building?"
Sally drew a deep, tired sigh.
"Never mind," said Penny kindly. "We know why you went in--it was to findthe brass lantern."
Sally nodded. "When I got to the basement, flames were shooting upeverywhere," she recalled with a shudder. "I realized then that Icouldn't possibly find the lantern or anything else. I tried to get back,but smoke was everywhere. That was the last I remembered."
"It was Jack who saved you," Penny said, but he cut in to insist that thecredit belonged to her rather than to him.
In the midst of a good-natured argument over the subject, a nurse came tosay that Penny and Jack both were wanted on the telephone.
"The police department calling," she explained.
They were down the hall in a flash to take the call. Captain Brown of thecity police force informed them they were wanted immediately at policeheadquarters to identify Sweeper Joe, the Harpers, and Clark Clayton whohad been arrested at the railroad station. Adam Glowershick also had beentaken into custody.
At headquarters fifteen minutes later, the young people found Mr.Gandiss, Penny's father, and Heiney Growski already there. Questioned bypolice, the young people revealed everything they knew about the case.
"We can hold these men for a while," Chief Bailey promised Mr. Gandiss,"but to make charges stick, we'll have to have more evidence."
Penny had told of the cache of brass in the Harper basement, and also ofseeing Sweeper Joe and Clark Clayton dump much of the loot in the river.She was assured that the ruins of the house would be searched in themorning and that a dredge would be assigned to try to locate the brasswhich had been thrown overboard into the deepest part of the channel.
Heiney Growski produced records he had kept, showing a list of Gandissfactory employes known to be implicated in the plot.
"Most of the persons involved are new employes who smuggled small piecesof brass out of the factory and turned them over to Sweeper Joe for pinmoney," he revealed. "The leaders are Joe, Clayton, and Glowershick. Withthem behind bars, the ring will dissolve."
"There's one thing I want to know," Penny declared feelingly. "Whoplanted the brass in Sally's locker while she was working at thefactory?"
No one could answer the question at the moment, but the following day,after police had repeatedly questioned the prisoners, the entire storybecame known. Sweeper Joe, the real instigator of the plot, had slippedinto the locker room himself, and had placed the incriminating piece ofevidence in Sally's locker, using a master key. He had disliked herbecause several times she had resented his attempts to become friendly.
Although police had obtained signed confessions, tangible evidence alsowas needed, for as Chief Bailey pointed out to Mr. Gandiss, the men mightrepudiate their statements when they appeared in court. Accordingly,police squads were sent to the Harpers' to search the ashes for evidence,and also to the river to supervise dredging operations.
Throughout the day, between trips to the hospital to see Sally, Jack andPenny watched the dredge boat make its trips back and forth over the areawhere the loot had been dropped.
"I hope I wasn't mistaken in the location," Penny remarked anxiously asthe vessel made repeated excursions without success. "After all, thenight was dark, and I had no way of taking accurate bearings."
Across the river and barely visible, the blackened, smoking skeleton ofthe _Florence_ lay stranded on a sandbar. Throughout the night, afireboat had steadily pumped water into the burning vessel, but even so,fires had not been entirely extinguished.
Morning papers had carried the encouraging information that there wasonly one known casualty as a result of the disaster. That many lives hadnot been lost was credited entirely to the courageous action of CaptainBarker.
Becoming weary of watching the monotonous dredging operations, Jack andPenny joined a throng of curious bystanders at the Harper property.Police had taken complete charge and were raking the smoldering ruins.
"Find anything?" Jack asked a policeman he knew.
The man pointed to a small heap of charred metal which had been takenfrom the basement. There were many pieces of brass, but the missinglantern was not to be found in the pile.
However, from a member of the arson squad, they learned that enoughevidence had been found to prove conclusively that the fire had beenstarted with gasoline.
"Ma Harper spilled the whole story," one of the policemen related. "Sheand her husband were fairly straight until they became mixed up withSweeper Joe, who has a police record of long standing. Ma had a blackmarket business in silk stockings that didn't amount to much. So far aswe've been able to learn, she and a taxi driver whom we've caught, werethe only ones involved. Her husband and the other men considered thestocking racket small potatoes for them."
After talking with the policemen for awhile, the young people wandereddown to the river's edge to see how dredging operations progressed.
"They're hauling something out of the water now!" Jack exclaimed. "ByGeorge! It looks like brass to me!"
Finding a boat tied up at the dock, they borrowed it and rowed rapidlyout to the dredge. There they saw that some of the metal which SweeperJoe had dumped, had indeed been recovered.
Prodding in the muddy pile in the bottom of the dredge net, Penny uttereda little scream of joy. "The brass lantern is here, Jack! What wonderfulluck!"
Seizing the slime-covered object, she washed it in the river. "Let's takeit s
traight to Sally at the hospital!" she urged.
Because the lantern would be important evidence in the case againstGlowershick, police aboard the dredge were unwilling for it to beremoved. However, the young people carried the news to Sally.
"Oh, I'm so glad the lantern has been recovered!" she cried happily."Jack, you'll win it in the race Friday."
Jack and Penny exchanged a quick, stricken glance. Temporarily, they hadforgotten the race and all it meant to Sally. With her hands bandagedfrom painful burns, she never would be able to compete.
"We'll postpone the race," Jack said gruffly. "It would be no competitionif we held it without you."
"Nonsense," replied Sally. "It will be weeks before I can use my handswell, so it would be stupid to postpone the race that long. Fortunately,the doctor says I may leave the hospital tomorrow, and I'll not bescarred."
"If you can't race, I won't either," declared Jack stubbornly.
"Jack, you must!" Agitated, Sally raised herself on an elbow. "I'd feeldreadful if you didn't compete. The race has meant everything to you."
"Not any more. Winning doesn't seem important now. I'll not sail in therace unless the _Cat's Paw_ is entered, and that's final!"
"Oh, Jack, you're such an old mule!" Sally tossed her head impatiently onthe pillow. Then she grinned. "If my _Cat_ is in the race, you'll sail?"
"Sure," he agreed, suspecting no trick.
Sally laughed gleefully. "Then it's settled! Penny will represent me inthe race!"
"I'll do what?" demanded Penny.
"You'll skipper the boat in my stead!"
"But I lack experience."
"You'll win the trophy easily," chuckled Sally. "Why, the _Cat's Paw_ isby far the fastest boat on the river."
"Says who?" demanded Jack, but without his old fire.
"But I couldn't race alone," said Penny, decidedly worried. "Sally, wouldyou be able to ride along as adviser and captain bold?"
"I certainly would jump at the chance if the doctor would givepermission. Oh, Penny, if only he would!"
"The race isn't until Friday," Jack said encouragingly. "You can make it,Sally."
The girl pulled herself to a sitting posture, staring at her bandagedhands.
"Yes, I can," she agreed with quiet finality. "Why, I feel betteralready. Even if I have to be carried to the dock in a wheel chair, I'llbe in that race!"
CHAPTER 25 _THE RACE_
A mid-afternoon sun beat down upon the wharves as a group of sailboatstacked slowly toward the starting line for the annual Hat Island trophyrace. The shores were lined with spectators, and from the clubhouse wherea band played, music carried over the water.
At the tiller of the _Cat's Paw_, Penny, in white blouse and slacks, hairbound tightly to keep it from blowing, sat nervous and tense. Sally,lounging on a cushion in the bow, seemed thoroughly relaxed. Though herarms remained in bandages, otherwise she had completely recovered fromher unpleasant experience.
"Isn't the wind dying?" Penny asked anxiously. "Oh, Sally, I was hopingwe'd have a good stiff breeze for the race! Handicapped as we are--"
"We're not handicapped," Sally corrected. "Of course, I can't handle theropes or do much to help, but we have a wonderful boat that will provemore than a match for Jack's _Spindrift_."
"You're only saying that to give me confidence."
"No, I'm not," Sally denied, turning to study the group of racing boats."We'll win the trophy! Just wait and see."
"If we do, it will be because of your brain and my brawn," Pennychuckled. "I'll admit I'm scared silly. I never was in an important racebefore."
Conversation ceased, for the boats now were bunching close to thestarting line, maneuvering for position. Jack drifted by in the_Spindrift_, raising his hand in friendly greeting. As he passed, heactually glanced anxiously toward Sally, as if worried lest the girlovertax herself.
"I hope he doesn't try to throw the race just to be gallant," Pennythought. "But I don't believe he will, for then the victory would be ahollow one."
The change apparent in Jack so amazed Penny that she had to pinch herselfto realize it was true. Since the night of the fire, he had visited Sallyevery day. In a brief span of hours, he had grown from a selfish,arrogant youth into a steady, dependable man. And it now was evident toeveryone that he liked Sally in more than a friendly way.
"Better come about now, Penny," Sally broke in upon her thoughts. "Headfor the starting line. The signal should be given any minute now."
The boats started in a close, tight group. Jack was over the line first,but with _Cat's Paw_ directly behind.
In the first leg of the race, the two boats kept fairly even, with theothers lagging. As the initial marker was rounded, there was a noticeablefall-off in the wind.
"It's going to be a drifting race," Sally confirmed, raising troubledeyes to the wrinkled sail. "We're barely drawing now and Jack's boat hasthe edge in a calm."
The _Spindrift_ skimmed merrily along, now in the lead by many yards.Though Penny held the tiller delicately, taking advantage of every breathof wind, the distance between the two boats rapidly increased.
"We're out of it," she sighed. "We can't hope to overtake Jack now."
Sally nodded gloomily. Shading her eyes against the glare of the sun, shegazed across the river, studying the triangular course. Far off-shore,well beyond the line the _Spindrift_ and their own boat was taking, thesurface of the water appeared rippled. Ahead of them there was only asmooth surface.
"Penny," she said quietly. "I believe there's more breeze out there."
Penny nodded and headed the _Cat's Paw_ on the longer course out into theriver. To many spectators ashore it appeared that the girls deliberatelyhad abandoned the race, but aboard the _River Queen_, Captain Barkergrinned proudly at his guests, Mr. Parker, and Mr. and Mrs. Gandiss.
"Those gals are using their heads!" he praised. "Well, Mr. Gandiss, itlooks as if the Barkers will keep the trophy another year!"
"The race isn't over yet," Mr. Gandiss rumbled goodnaturedly.
Aboard the _Cat's Paw_, Penny and Sally were none too jubilant. Althoughsails curved with wind and they were footing much faster than the otherboats, the course they had chosen would force them to sail a much longerdistance. Could they cross the finish line ahead of the _Spindrift_?
"Shouldn't we turn now?" Penny asked impatiently. "Jack's so much closerthan we."
"Not yet," Sally said calmly. "We must make it in one long tack. He willbe forced to make several. That's our only chance. If we misjudge thedistance, we're sunk."
Tensely, they watched the moving line of boats close along shore. The_Spindrift_ seemed almost at the finish line, though her sails barelywere drawing and she moved through the water at a snail's pace.
Again Penny glanced anxiously at her companion.
"Now!" Sally gave the signal.
Instantly Penny swung the _Cat's Paw_ onto the homeward tack. Every inchof her sails drawing, she swept toward the finish line.
"We're so much farther away than the _Spindrift_," Penny groaned,crouching low so that her body would not deflect the wind. "Oh, Sally,will we make it?"
"Can't tell yet. It will be nip and tuck. But if we can keep thisbreeze--"
The wind held, and the _Cat's Paw_, sailing to windward of the finishline, moved along faster and faster. On the other hand, the _Spindrift_was forced to make several short tacks, losing distance each time. Theboats drew even.
Suddenly Sally relaxed, and slumped down on the cushions.
"Just hold the old girl steady on her course," she grinned. "That brasslantern is the same as ours!"
"Then we'll win?"
"We can't lose now unless some disaster should overtake us."
Even as Sally spoke, boat whistles began to toot. Sailing experts noddedtheir heads in a pleased way, for it was a race to their liking.
A minute later, sweeping in like a house afire, the _C
at's Paw_ crossedthe finish line well in advance of the _Spindrift_. Jack's boat placedsecond with other craft far behind.
Friendly hands assisted the girls ashore where they were spirited away tothe clubhouse for rest and refreshments. As everyone crowded about tocongratulate them upon victory, Jack joined the throng.
"It was a dandy race," he said with sincerity. "I tried hard to win, butyou outsmarted me."
"Why, Jack!" teased Sally. "Imagine admitting a thing like that!"
"Now don't try to rub it in," he pleaded. "I know I've been an awfulheel. You probably won't believe me, but I'm sorry about the way Iacted--"
"For goodness sakes, don't apologize," Sally cut him short. "I enjoyedevery one of those squabbles we had. I hope we have a lot more of them."
"We probably will," Jack warned, "because I expect to be underfoot quitea bit of the time."
Later in the afternoon, the brass lantern which had been turned over tothe club by the police, was formally presented to Sally. She was warnedhowever, that the trophy would have to be returned later for use in courtas evidence against Adam Glowershick.
The nicest surprise of all was yet to come. Captain Barker was requestedby a committee chairman to kindly step forward into full view of thespectators.
"Now what's this?" he rumbled, edging away.
But he could not escape. Speaking into a loudspeaker, the committeechairman informed the captain and delighted spectators, that inappreciation of what he had done to save the waterfront, a thousanddollar purse had been raised. Mr. Gandiss, whose factory certainly wouldhave faced destruction had wharves caught fire, had contributed half thesum himself.
"Why, beaching the _Florence_ was nothing," the captain protested, deeplyembarrassed. "I can repair the damage done to the _Queen_ with less thana hundred dollars."
"The money is yours, and you must keep it," he was told. "You must have ause for it."
"I have that," Captain Barker admitted, winking at his daughter. "There'sa certain young lady of my acquaintance who has been hankerin' to go awayto college."
"Oh, Pop." Sally's eyes danced. "How wonderful! I know where I want to gotoo!"
"So you've been studying the school catalogues?" her father teased.
Sally shook her head. Reaching for Penny's hand, she drew her close.
"I don't need a catalogue," she laughed. "I only know I'm scheduled forthe same place Penny selects! She's been my good luck star, and I'll setmy future course by her!"
Transcriber's Notes
--Replaced the list of books in the series by the complete list, as in the final book, "The Cry at Midnight".
--Silently corrected a handful of palpable typos.
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