CHAPTER VI Startling Developments
The amphibian coasted slowly in toward the beach, throttled down itsmotors and finally came to a halt.
"Can you tell me if a Miss Fairaday lives anywhere on this lake?" thepilot called out.
Anne and Madge exchanged startled glances. The former stepped forward.
"I am she."
To her further astonishment, the pilot said a few words to his passenger,a well-dressed, elderly gentleman, who immediately climbed from the frontcockpit. He presented his card to Anne.
"I'm Brownell from the Alton Chemical Company. I happened to be this wayon a business trip and thought I'd drop in to discuss that matter which Iwrote you about some time ago. By the way, we didn't hear from you."
Anne looked embarrassed and said hesitantly:
"I hadn't had time to write. You see, the formula--" she trailed off asMadge gave her a warning look. It would never do to tell Mr. Brownellthat the paper was missing--not unless she wanted to throw away herchance of ever selling it to him if it were found.
"If the formula is all your Father claimed it to be, we may be willing toenter into an agreement with you," Mr Brownell declared. "Now if you'lljust let me see the formula--"
"I'm afraid I can't now," Anne returned. "You see I don't live here. Myhome is at Stewart Island."
Mr Brownell brushed away her objections with a careless wave of his hand.
"Oh, I don't mind going there. In fact, if you're not afraid to ride in aplane, my pilot can take us both to the island."
"Well,--you see--that is, the formula was put away for safe keeping,"Anne stammered.
"You mean you haven't it at hand? How soon can you get it?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps I could write you later--"
"No, I've traveled a good many miles to see it. Fact is, our company isanxious to get just such a formula as your Father described to us. If youcan get it in a day or so I'm of a mind to stay over. I can send my planeback to the city and return by train."
Anne was at a loss to know what to say. She looked doubtfully at Madgewho was unable to help her.
"I can't make any promise about the formula," she said after a slighthesitation.
"You're not dealing with another company, I hope," Mr. Brownell saidquickly.
"Oh, no. Father wrote to several firms, I believe, but I've not enteredinto any correspondence."
Mr. Brownell did not seem entirely convinced. He debated a minute,studying the lake meditatively.
"Any fish here?" he questioned abruptly.
"It's the best fishing lake in this part of the country," Madge informedquickly. "Only this morning my uncle caught a seven pound bass. And itput up a magnificent fight."
"I'd enjoy meeting a bass like that. If I can find accommodations I'llstay a day or so."
Madge suggested that her aunt might take him in, and arrangements weresoon made. As the amphibian taxied away without its passenger, ClydeWendell came down the trail. Anne did not wish to speak to him andhurriedly took her departure.
"What shall I do about the formula?" she whispered to Madge as they saidgoodbye at the water's edge. "Shall I tell him it's lost?"
"Not for a day or so," Madge advised. "If we can get him interested inthe fishing it will give us a little time to search. We may find thething yet."
Mr. Brownell had followed Mrs. Brady into the lodge but Clyde Wendelllingered near the beach. As Madge turned toward the house he stopped her.
"Who is that fellow?"
"His name is Mr. Brownell."
"What was he saying to Anne Fairaday just a minute ago?"
"Really, I think you should ask her," Madge returned coldly.
She had no intention of telling him Mr. Brownell's real mission. Beforehe could ask another question, she walked away. However, the chemist wasnot so easily discouraged and that night at the supper table, heskillfully drew from Mr. Brownell the purpose of his visit to Loon Lake.
"If you're looking for a formula to prevent metals rusting, you may beinterested in an idea of mine," Clyde suggested. "I've been working on itfor years. If you have the time, I'd like to go into the matter incomplete detail."
Mr. Brownell expressed a keen interest and the two retired to theveranda, there to talk more privately. They were still engrossed in deepconversation when Madge finished the supper dishes.
"If that isn't just what you'd expect of Clyde Wendell!" she thought indisgust. "He wouldn't care if he took the bread out of Anne's mouth. I dohope his idea is a flop."
After a time the two men went to their rooms. Madge was closing the doorsfor the night when she heard the faint put-put of a motor boat, far outon the lake.
"I wonder who can be out so late?" she thought. "It might be one of therangers only it doesn't sound like their boat."
She shut the door and thought no more of it. It was her intention topaddle over to Stewart Island early the next morning to aid Anne in thesearch for the formula. Upon arising, she was startled to observe a whiteflag flying from a high point on the island.
Madge did not wait for breakfast, fearing that something had gone wrongduring the night and that her friend might be in trouble. As she beachedher canoe at Stewart Island, Anne came running down to meet her.
"Anything wrong?" Madge inquired anxiously.
"I'll show you," Anne said impressively.
She led her companion to the house and they entered the dining room. Annewent directly to a huge walnut buffet and jerked open the drawers. Theywere all empty.
"That's what happened last night. All the silverware taken!"
"My word!" Madge scarcely could believe her eyes. "Why, I never heard ofsuch a thing before at Loon Lake. Was the silverware very valuable?"
"I couldn't afford to lose it. Still, it wasn't such a costly grade ofsilver. I can't see why a thief would go to so much risk to steal itunless he thought he would find other valuables."
"What else was taken?"
"Nothing so far as I can tell. The library was ransacked but everythingseems to be there."
"The library! How very odd!"
"Yes, I can't imagine what the thief thought he might find."
Madge started to say something, then closed her lips firmly. She had atheory of her own but decided not to mention it yet. She followed Anne tothe library. Books had been pulled from their shelves and tumbled outupon the floor. Papers were scattered about and the desk appeared to havebeen opened.
"I haven't checked over all the books yet," Anne said, "though to myknowledge Father had only a few of any real value. They're all here."
"What time of night do you imagine the house was entered?"
"Oh, Madge, I have no idea. I must have slept so well that I didn't heara sound. Strange that I didn't, for I'm sure the thief came upstairs. Thelaboratory appears to have been entered."
Madge expressed a desire to see Mr. Fairaday's workroom and was conductedupstairs. The laboratory was in disarray. Boxes had been removed from theshelves, containers misplaced and files disturbed.
"It looks as if the thief were after something besides silverware," shecommented. "I suppose your Father's bedroom was entered too?"
"No, apparently not. My room adjoins and I am sure I would have awakenedif anyone had tried to open the door. Perhaps the intruder knew where Islept and avoided that part of the house."
Madge moved thoughtfully about the laboratory examining articles whichhad been misplaced. In spite of the disorder, the thief had left behindno clue to his identity.
"Anne, you haven't mentioned the formula to anyone save Mr. Brownell,have you?" she asked suddenly.
"Why, no. That is, except to Clyde Wendell. I asked him if he had anyidea what could have become of it and he said he knew nothing about it.You don't think the person who came here last night was after theformula?"
"Perhaps not. It merely occurred to me." Madge lapsed into thoughtfulsilence. "I can't think of anyone save Mr. Brownell who would w
ant to layhands on that missing paper," she added, after a moment, "and I'm sure henever left the house last night. But just as I was going to bed, I dorecall hearing a motor boat out on the lake and it sounded as though itmight be heading toward Stewart Island."
"Jake Curtis has one, Madge!"
"I thought of that right away but what reason would he have for cominghere?"
"It's beyond me. All I know is that my silverware is gone. You don'tsuppose someone--Jake for instance, is trying to frighten me away fromhere?"
"That's a possibility," Madge conceded. "Jake is bent on getting thisproperty by one means or another. Still, your theory doesn't entirelysatisfy me."
From the laboratory the girls went to Mr. Fairaday's bedroom. After abrief search which revealed no clues, they examined the other upstairsrooms and then returned to the first floor. The identity of the prowlerremained a mystery.
"You can't stay here alone another night," Madge protested. "If you don'tcare to come to the lodge, then I think I should remain here."
"I wish you would!"
Madge did not look forward to a night at Stewart Island. She preferredher own comfortable room at the lodge to the gloomy, barn-like Fairadayhome. However, for the sake of her friend, she was glad to undergo alittle inconvenience. After promising to return before nightfall, shetook her leave.
Half way across the lake, she swung her canoe toward the lookout tower.Before she could climb the long flight of iron stairs to the platform,Jack French came down the trail, whistling a cheerful tune. He broke offas he saw Madge and greeted her with a broad smile.
"Hello, there. Why the serious expression so early in the morning?"
"I've had no breakfast for one thing. And for another, exciting eventshave taken place during the night."
"If this apple will help stave off the pangs of hunger, you're welcome toit," he said, taking a polished red Winesap from his jacket pocket."Perhaps it will give you strength to tell me all about the excitement."
Madge accepted the apple gratefully.
"I'm afraid you'd give away the shirt off your back, Jack," she smiled.
"I would to you," he returned quietly. She glanced up, surprised at thetone of his voice. Before she could divine his meaning, he laughed."What's an apple, Madge? No sense getting sentimental about one when I'vea case at home."
Madge felt slightly rebuffed and immediately changed the subject to theone foremost in her mind. Jack listened attentively as she told him allthat had befallen the previous night at Stewart Island.
"I'll drop around there this morning and look things over," he promised."Tracking down a thief isn't my line exactly, but I'll be glad to doanything I can to help you and Anne. This is the first theft that's beenreported since I came to Loon Lake."
At the lodge, Madge repeated the story for her aunt's benefit but shetook care that neither Clyde Wendell nor Mr. Brownell were within hearingdistance. The latter had gone fishing with Old Bill as his guide, andtheir boat could be seen trolling slowly along the far shore. The chemiststationed himself in a comfortable chair on the porch. He appeared to bedrowsing, yet whenever Madge glanced in his direction she noticed that hewas watching the fishing boat intently.
"He seems afraid he'll miss something," she thought. "I wonder how longhe intends to remain here?"
The chemist made no announcement of his future plans. He seemed contentto sit and dream and think. In contrast, Mr. Brownell was a bundle ofenergy. He arose at dawn to fish and did not return until late in theevening. Several times Madge heard him remark that he must get over toStewart Island to see Anne Fairaday, but each day saw him fishinginstead.
Madge and Anne welcomed the delay for although they had searched thehouse many times, the formula could not be found. Mrs. Brady had beenreluctant to have her niece spend the nights at Stewart Island, but afterseveral had passed with nothing amiss, she had grown more accustomed tothe idea.
One evening, four days after Mr. Brownell's arrival at the lodge, Madgewas particularly anxious to get supper over with so that she might startfor the island. It was nearly seven o'clock before Mr. Brownell and Billcame in with their string of fish. The president was proud of four largetrout he had caught and after they were weighed, requested that they beprepared for supper. It was well after eight before the dishes werecleared away.
"I'll do them," Mrs. Brady offered. "You must hurry along, Madge."
It was dark by the time she pulled up on the beach at Stewart Island.There was no moon and the stars were half-hidden by black clouds. Madgecould not see the house. If a lamp had been lighted, it did not shine outthrough the trees.
"This is a spooky place after dark," she thought uncomfortably. "Wish Ihad my flash."
It was difficult to find the path leading to the house. Groping about,she stepped into a mud hole which let her in to her shoetops. The treesalong the shore were dense and overgrown with vegetation. At length shefound a trail but before she had followed it very far she discovered itwas leading her deeper into the brush instead of toward the house.
She turned back, and impatient at the delay, walked hurriedly, payingslight attention to the ground underfoot. Unexpectedly, she stumbled overa vine. She tried to save herself but went down, striking her bodyagainst a hollow log which lay directly ahead.
Madge cried out but it was more from surprise than pain. In striking thelog she distinctly had heard from within a strange metallic sound!
She gave the log an exploratory kick with her foot. Again she heard thesound.
"Something is hidden in there," she thought. Stooping down, she gropedabout the opening at one end of the log. It was clogged with leaves andloose moss which she pulled away. She boldly plunged her arm into theopening.
"Hope I don't get it chewed off!" she chuckled.
Her hand grasped something hard.
"What in the world?" she gasped.
Then she knew. It was Anne's missing silverware.