CHAPTER XXI THE SHOE
Red Rodgers and Berley Todd lost no time in making their way back to thescout's cabin. If those men who blinded and shot the moose were thekidnapers then they were safest under the protection of Ed's "shootin'irons."
"Those men," Ed said, when he had heard their story, "more'n likely werenot your kidnapers at all. Moose hunters, more'n likely."
"Moose hunters!" Berley Todd exploded. "You're not allowed to kill amoose on Isle Royale!"
"Who said you were?" Ed threw back his head and laughed. "They're notallowed to kidnap star football players and little half-portions likeyou, but here you are all the same!
"Case is not parallel though," he added thoughtfully. "These men who cometo the island for moose need the meat to feed their families; anywaythat's their excuse.
"And it's good enough excuse for me!" he added emphatically. "I'm neitherdeputy nor game warden. I'm here to guard the buildings of this resortfrom fire and theft. If I interfere with these moose hunters I'm likelyto be found cold and stiff under the snow."
"But it is a shame!" Berley said quietly. "Moose are such magnificentcreatures! And Isle Royale is about the only place you can see them.Think of the hundreds who come to the island every year just to seethem."
"Y-e-s," Ed drawled, "I've thought of them and I've wondered why themoose are not protected in winter. But that distinctly ain't my job. Sothere you are."
"I'm not so sure those men were not members of the kidnaping band. Theremust be batteries and spotlights on the plane. They could hook those upand use them. They'll be needing meat. Why shouldn't they hunt moose?"
"Might be, but I doubt it." Ed stirred the fire.
"Oh, oh!" exclaimed Berley Todd, as a sudden thought took possession ofher. "Suppose those were moose hunters. Suppose they were to meet thekidnapers. Suppose they think the kidnapers are wardens and deputies; andthe kidnapers think they're detectives from the city. Suppose they meetand shoot it out!"
"And then suppose we come upon them all dead with their boots on," Reddrawled. "They do that in the movies.
"Ed," he demanded, "when will this storm end?"
"Perhaps day after to-morrow."
Red stared angrily at the fire. The girl threw him a teasing glance asshe sang low:
"Come, play with me."
"All right!" he exclaimed almost fiercely, "I'll play with you to-morrowand the day after if need be; anyway until the kidnapers catch up with usor we are able to leave the island."
"If you care to row," Ed suggested, "it's not too rough in the harbor. Ifyou were to wear my canvas coat and cowboy hat--" He turned to Red. "Ifyou went out before dawn and if Berley, here, sat low in the stern, noone would know but that it was just old Ed and his dog. You could playaround among the little islands all day and be safe."
"Shall we?" Berley's tone was almost wistful. "We'll take a lunch and eatit on the rocks."
"Might be worse," Red admitted. "Rowing will at least keep me in trim forthe great day. And now for some sleep!" He disappeared behind the narrowcurtain that led to one of the cubby-hole bedrooms in Ed's cabin.
"The great day," he whispered to himself, as he slid beneath the covers.That day now seemed very, very far away. But quite unconsciously he waslosing his feeling of long weariness. The spring of youth was floodingback through every nerve and fiber of his being. "If only I could get awhack at that line," he thought dreamily. "If only I could!"
* * * * * * * *
The person banging at Drew Lane's door was none other than the personknown as the Rat. Drew was surprised to see him. The Rat, like others ofhis kind, seldom appeared unless called. The object he unwrapped beforethe young detective's astonished eyes was, he thought, worth a trip halfway round the world. It was the shoe that had made the invisiblefootprint on the sleeping car sheet. Once Drew's eyes fell upon it, hesat and stared. A full minute had passed into eternity before he couldsay:
"Where did you find it?"
"You know dat place beside de river? Down below de flower shop? AngeloPiccalo's shop? Dat's de place."
Drew looked at Johnny. Johnny looked at Drew.
"Rat," said Drew, "you're a great old finder. Here's a fiver. Now scram!"
The Rat vanished.
For a long time the detective and his young friend sat staring at theshoe.
"Johnny," said Drew at last, "they say you can't keep birds from flyingover your head, but you can prevent their building nests in your hair.Also, 'Where there is much smoke there must be some fire.' First there'sthe jimmy bar, and now there's this shoe. Looks as if we were beginningto see light. Do you get me?"
"I--I think I do," replied Johnny, in anything but a cheerful voice.
Johnny was on his way early next morning. He crossed the bridge and wasabout to pass the flower shop without going in, when Angelo stepped outof the door.
"Gooda morning, meester Johnny! Dees ees one--a fine morning."
"Yes, sure, Angelo, it is fine."
Apparently a box had been opened beside the flower shop door. The box wasgone, but some broken fragments of wood remained. Picking up one ofthese, Angelo began to whittle absent-mindedly. His actions so fascinatedthe boy that he found it hard to talk coherently. However, he forcedhimself into the task of talking about the weather, the river, speedboats and rare flowers. In the meantime he watched the keen blade ofAngelo's knife chipping out short, sharp shavings of wood.
"He's nervous. His fingers tremble," he told himself.
A customer appeared. Angelo went inside. After a furtive glance, Johnnybent over, seized a handful of Angelo's shavings, then hurried away.
A block down the street he paused to drop the shavings into a usedenvelope and thrust them into the side pocket of his coat. "Exhibit A,"he murmured as he marched on toward the office of the News where he wasto study Exchanges. "Exhibit A. I wonder!"