CHAPTER XXII
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, beingcautious 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 Lashercan't find what he is hunting for. The only thing for me to do is to laylow until he shows his hand, and then try to gather him in. I know myduty, and nothing can sheer me off, no matter how sorry I might feel forthe 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 withdelight to be thus publicly complimented by an officer of the State.
After a while the two men wandered off, though promising to return bynight, as another meal like that was a great temptation, and theinvitation pressing.
The boys went in a bunch to assist Will and Bluff to clean out the snakeden, as a means for passing time and doing a good deed. More brush wasdragged over and thrown down into the hole, regardless of the angryhissing of the numerous ugly crawlers to be seen sunning themselvesthere.
"All ready for the grand finale!" shouted Bluff, after Will had secureda picture of the whole scene.
Upon which burning bunches of dead grass were thrown in. The brush tookfire fairly well, being pretty dry, and presently a leaping furnace offlames announced the end of the snakes' paradise. Possibly not one ofthem could escape the terrific scorching, unless their holes ran deeperinto 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 toattend to. Jerry threw his gun over his shoulder and sauntered forth fora ramble, but did not mean to shoot any game he might happen to runacross, 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 bearskinwhich he was trying to cure, after certain directions given by old JesseWilcox, the veteran trapper, whom the boys had visited the precedingfall.
Will, of course, could always find something to do in connection withhis photographic work, for he carried a little tank along with him intothe woods, and in this he developed his films, day or night.
Jed seemed quite satisfied to keep busy around the fire. He assistedAdolphus, and, indeed, was ready to anticipate the needs of any of thesefine 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 heseemed 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 itcould 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 withprinting, together with some writing.
"Oh! What is it?" gasped the little chap, staring at the document, whichreally 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 fivehundred shares in the Consolidated Hecla Gold Mine. Bushels of just suchstuff is printed every year, for the purpose of defrauding innocentpeople. 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 keendisappointment.
"I didn't say that. At the time, perhaps, it wasn't worth the paper itwas printed on; but conditions may have changed. Possibly they have madea valuable strike at the mines of the Consolidated Hecla. The eagernessof your uncle to get possession of this document would seem to provethat."
"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 orother, or he wouldn't have been so determined to get possession of thelocket. 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 abanker, and he can tell us if there is any real value attached to thisstock. If so, you are a lucky fellow, Jed."
"And I owe it all to you, Frank, you and the rest. How can I ever thankyou 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, wefeel 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 orlater. We mean to keep an eye on those old ruins until something turnsup. Room for two at your fire to-night, boys?" said the sheriff as hecame up.
Of course they greeted him warmly. Mr. Dodd was a man whom the boys allliked, because he always felt a sympathetic interest in their sportsand games, never forgetting, as some men do, that he was once a boyhimself.
Adolphus, spurred on by the compliment of the noon meal, excelledhimself in the effort to please. The result was a bumper spread, whichcalled 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 thelake, 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 ofthe law in their midst the boys did not even bother keeping watch.
Another morning found them again gathered around the board, discussingheaping piles of the most delicious flapjacks ever eaten in any camp. Itwas simply astonishing how many each of those hungry boys put away; andas 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 hadwith 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 campas if expecting him to suggest something, called them together.
"What do you say, fellows, that we take the canoes and paddle across thelake 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 hisgun.
"Please don't think of leaving me behind. Now the chances are there willbe something worth while to snap off over there, so if none of youobject 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'sposse roaming the neighborhood, there did not seem to be any likelihoodof unwelcome visitors while they were away. Besides, Bluff had kindlyconsented to leave his gun in his tent, and Jed knew how to fire thesame. Three shots in rapid order would bring the quartet back indouble-quick time.
Landing on the other side, they made their way up the rise. The placewas overgrown with briars and stubborn thickets, but they knew it hadonce been cleared, so they were not long in discovering the ruins of thehouse.
Some vandal had fired it, perhaps long after it had been abandoned as aplace of residence, so that with the foundations only charred remnantsof the building were to be seen.
Though the boys looked around eagerly, expecting to see some sign of thesheriff or his men, they failed to detect anything to indic
ate thepresence 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 andplant it," remarked Frank, who had a little of the romantic mixed withhis 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, withthe ruins as a background. Thank you."
"Frank, there's some one watching us from the bushes yonder," whisperedBluff.
"You're right, and I think I can guess. Jerry, you know! Call him overhere. I've an idea he wants to speak to us, and yet seems afraid, forsome reason. Perhaps he knows the sheriff is around somewhere," saidFrank.
Upon which Jerry took a few steps forward, and waving his hand, calledout:
"Andy! No use hiding; we see you! Come here!"