CHAPTER XVI--FOLLOWING UP THE CLUE
There was plenty to do by the time the boys got back to the pier. Jed,lone-handed, was pumping gasoline into the tank through the strainer.Several barrels of the oil had been sent down to the water front.Stripping off their coats, Tom and Joe turned to and helped.
Bouncer, the bull pup, was on hand also, chained in the engine room. Inview of the late near-tragedy Mr. Dunstan had decided to keep the dogaboard, at the home pier, hereafter, and had brought Bouncer downhimself.
"We'll finish this job Jed, if you'll turn to and cook up a quicksupper," proposed Halstead.
"Anything on?" asked Jed, looking keenly at them.
"I shouldn't wonder," nodded the young captain.
Jed asked no more questions, but got a tempting supper ready in close torecord time. As they were eating Tom told Jed, in low tones, the littlethey had discovered.
Briefly, it was this: The Dunstan gardener and greenhouse man was aFrenchman named Gambon. He was a quiet, even sulky fellow, who had madeno friends among the other employes of the place. Mr. Dunstan had oncerebuked the Frenchman for some carelessness. Michael had seen Gambonshake his fist after the employer as the latter was going away. This hadhappened four months ago.
There was not very much in that alone. But Gambon, who lived in a littletwo-room cottage all by himself, and who had no work to occupy himevenings, had always been in the habit of smoking and reading, thenretiring early. For more than the last fortnight, however, Gambon hadleft the place every evening. Sometimes he was gone an hour; sometimeshe had not returned until late. Two nights after Ted's disappearanceMichael, who had reported to Mr. Dunstan concerning the Frenchman'sactions, had been authorized to follow Gambon. The Frenchman, however,merely went to the Park in Nantucket and sat for a couple of hours onone of the benches, smoking and seemingly dreaming. Mr. Dunstan, whenthis tame fact was reported to him, pooh-poohed Michael's suspicions andforbade him to watch the Frenchman any longer.
"For," said Mr. Dunstan, "watching any man long enough is likely to makea half-rascal of him."
"But, Captain Tom, when a very quiet man suddenly changes the fixedhabits av year-rs," said Michael earnestly, "then there's likely astrong reason for it, and maybe a bad one."
These were the facts that Tom and Joe now rehearsed, in undertones, toJed.
"Does it look likely, from that," asked Prentiss, "that Gambon wouldsteal down here in early morning and pump our tank dry?"
"Michael saw him standing on the wharf this morning, smoking," repliedHalstead. "Michael thought we must be up and about, though, so he didn'tpay any attention to the Frenchman."
"Kind of a hazy clue, altogether, isn't it?" queried Jed.
"It's enough to be worth looking into," Tom replied earnestly. "Do yourealize that to-morrow is the last day that Mr. Dunstan has to get Tedbefore the probate court! That, if he doesn't do it to-morrow, the biginheritance of millions goes by the board? So anything is big enough towork on to-night. It's our last chance. Now Mr. Dunstan has assured methat the 'Meteor' won't be ordered out to-night. Joe and I are going towatch the Frenchman. Jed, you'll want to stay right here by the boat andkeep a sharp eye on it, for Gambon may not be the one who is trying toput the 'Meteor' on the scrap heap. You'll have Bouncer to help you.Even if it came to taking the boat over to Wood's Hole, on a changedorder, you're equal to it, aren't you?"
"Just give me the chance!" cried Jed. "I'd welcome it."
As soon as dark fell Joe stole across the grounds at the further end,stationing himself by the road. Tom, on the other hand, hid himself notfar from Gambon's little cottage. This was the plan of the chums toprevent the Frenchman from giving them the slip, in case he had anysuspicions. There was still a light in Gambon's cottage. After half anhour, however, the light vanished. Then Gambon came out, carrying athick walking stick.
Tom watched the Frenchman until he was out of sight. Then after him theyoung skipper went on tip-toe. It was not difficult to keep quietly onthe trail, for the gardener appeared far from suspicious.
Then, minutes later, Joe stepped out from behind a tree, touching Tomlightly on the arm. They went along together.
"It's easy so far," whispered Halstead.
"May be a reason," answered Joe. "Our Frenchman may have nothing toconceal. Perhaps he's only going courting."
As Michael had reported, the gardener's route lay along the highway toNantucket. The lights of the little town were in sight when Halsteadsuddenly gave Joe a nudge. Both dodged behind bushes. For the Frenchmanhad stepped off the road under some trees. First looking around him,Gambon next bent over, moving a stone twice the size of his head. Hepicked up a piece of paper. Tom and Joe were breathing hard by thistime.
Carefully replacing the stone, Gambon struck a match, scanning the pieceof paper he held in his hand. In another instant he touched the flamingmatch to a corner of the paper, watching it burn up.
"Confound him for that!" muttered Tom in his chum's ear.
Gambon was coming back now. The two friends crouched lower behind thebushes. By them walked the Frenchman, looking straight ahead. As soon asit seemed wise to do so the chums started after him. They saw him,however, return to his cottage, where he lighted his lamp, smoked and byand by extinguished the light and went to bed.
"We've found the spy," groaned Tom, as the two chums neared the pier."It's fearful luck, Joe, that we couldn't have known about him before.But it's too late now for the knowledge to do us any good. To-morrow isthe last day for Ted Dunstan to show up. After we see that the boat andJed are safe I'll run up to the house for a moment and see Mr. Dunstan."
When Tom told their employer, a little later, what they had discoveredthat gentleman at first appeared considerably interested.
"I'm afraid, though, Halstead," he commented, "that we're all of usinclined to suspect anything and anyone. Gambon is a bachelor and hassaved a goodly bit of money. What more likely than that he may becourting a sweetheart? That would be a likely enough place for her toleave a note for him. Perhaps it was only a note as to an engagementthat had to be broken for this evening, for, as you say, Gambon cameright back. Whatever the note was about we'd probably feel ratherashamed if we forced the Frenchman to tell us about it. By the way, I amgoing to bed at once, now, for at at half-past five in the morning Ishall want to start for Wood's Hole. I've heard from Crane again, andhe's coming over with me at full speed, in order to be in court with me.We're going to see if we can't get an adjournment for one day. Ofcourse, there seems little hope of it, as the terms of the will are soexacting. Oh, Halstead, I made a huge mistake in letting the matter goso long!"
There were tears in Mr. Dunstan's eyes. Halstead, much touched, bade hisemployer goodnight, returning to the boat.