CHAPTER XXIV
BACK AT RANDALL
"This is the limit!"
"Where could he have gone?"
"He smelt a rat all right--he's sure mixed up in this business."
"And the quiet way he sneaked off! Let's find out if anyone saw him go."
Thus the chums exclaimed as the queer situation dawned upon them. Mr.Farson, too, was surprised, and did not know what to make of it.
"I think I will devote all my efforts to locating the pawnbroker," hesaid. "If I get the stuff back that belongs to other persons, I don'tcare so much about an arrest."
"But we'd like to solve the mystery, seeing that we had a hand in it,"said Tom. "I wonder where Mendez could have gone?"
But no one knew--no one had seen him go. Later that evening, when theyoung men, after the jeweler had gone to his store, made inquiries ofthe owner of the cottage where the Mexican had been working all thatday, they were told by a servant that a boy, coming in a boat, hadbrought a message to the caretaker. He had seemed surprised, and hadhurried off, leaving his work partly finished, promising to return. Buthe did not, and that was the last seen of him--at least for the timebeing.
Evidently he had taken alarm at something, had hurried to the shack,hastily packed up his belongings, and fled in a boat. In fact therowboat he generally used was missing.
As far as it went there was nothing criminal in his actions. There wasno direct connection between him and the missing jewelry. He bore a goodreputation among the cottagers, and had always done his work well. Hewas honest in his dealings, and his word could be taken in regard to thethings he sold. Some of the cottagers even owed him for work performed.
"It's another mystery connected with this strange affair," said Tom, ashe and his chums turned in for the night. "We may get to the bottom ofit some day."
"I hope so," murmured Frank. "We've been doing more detective work thanrowing of late. We'll have to buckle down from now on. College opens inthree weeks."
Of course the flight of Mendez was known to the girls, as well as to allothers on the island, but the circumstances connected with it, and thefinding of the pawn tickets, was kept a secret.
I say from all, but that is not quite correct. Tom did tell Ruth all,and they both puzzled over the fact that there was no ticket for thebrooch. But Tom did not tell Ruth what he had overheard between Boswelland Mendez.
"It might be Ruth's brooch that Boswell bought of Mendez, for hismother," reasoned Tom. "If Ruth thought so she might make a fuss andinsist on having it back. Then, again, it might not be hers, and thatwould make trouble. I've got to investigate a little more before I tellher."
The Boswell family closed up their cottage the next week, and left fortheir mountain home, where the rich lad and his parents were to spendthe rest of the vacation.
Our boys put in some hard practice in the shell, once or twice gettingenough rowers so that they could use the eight. Mr. Pierson gave themvaluable coaching.
Then, on his advice, they gave themselves up to a good rest, and theenjoyment of camp life.
"You'll want a week or two when you don't see an oar," he explained."There is such a thing as overdoing it. And you will soon be back atcollege you say, and begin hard training. So take a rest now."
And the boys did, though their "rest" consisted chiefly in giving thegirls a good time. The wheezy little launch was worked to the limit.
Then came the approach of the college season. Several cottages on theisland were closed. The girls said farewell to Madge, for they mustspend some time with their own folks, and one day Tom remarked:
"Say, fellows, let's break camp. It's no fun here without the girls."
"That's right," agreed Sid, and so the tents were struck, and our heroeswent their several ways to enjoy what was left of their vacation beforeagain gathering at Randall. And in that time nothing new developed aboutthe missing cups and jewelry. Nor was any word heard of the pawnbrokeror Mendez.
* * * * *
"Hello, there's Dutch Housenlager, bigger than ever!"
"Yes, and there's Bricktop redder than ever. I say, Brick!"
"Hello, Parsons, you look as brown as a berry. What have you been doingwith yourself?"
"Camping."
"You look it. I was at the shore--beastly hot, too!"
"Say, isn't the new boathouse swell?"
"Nothing like it. Oh, it's going to be great at Randall this Fall."
"Over this way, Henderson! Where's Phil and Frank?" cried Tom.
"I don't know. I just got in. Have you been up to the room?"
"No, I just landed, too. Have you fed your face?"
"Not since I got here. Let's grub and then we'll open up the place. Hi,there, Snail! How's the night work?"
"Oh, so-so," replied Sam Looper, re-christened "Snail," because of hisslowness, and his propensity for night prowling.
"Here come the Jersey twins!"
"That's right. I hope Jerry makes a good coxswain in the varsity eight,"went on Tom. "We need him."
"Hear you did some practicing this Summer," remarked Dutch, as heplayfully dug his elbow into Tom's ribs.
"We did. I'm anxious to get hold of an oar again. Have the new shellscome?"
"I haven't heard. We'll inquire. I saw Mr. Lighton a bit ago."
It was the opening of Randall College for the Fall term, and ourfriends, as well as their chums, had returned not only to lessons butto sports as well--cross-country running, football--ever gloriousfootball--and now and chiefly, rowing, for the regatta was to be heldbefore the big battles of the gridiron took place.
"Come on!" cried Tom, as he spied his three chums. "Let's slip up to ourroom and talk things over."
This was after a more or less hurried meal had been eaten.
"And we sure have lots to talk about," remarked Sid. "But let's getthrough with it and take a run up to Fairview. I guess----"
"You guess the girls are there--that's what you guess!" interrupted Tom."Hark to him, fellows. Isn't he the limit!"
And then, linking arms, the four inseparables strolled across thecampus, through groups of students, toward their room.