CHAPTER X
A CRY FOR HELP
"Now, dad, tell me all about it," requested Tom when he and Ned were inMr. Swift's apartment at the hotel, safe from the rain that wasfalling. "How did you happen to see Anson Morse and Happy Harry?" Myold readers will doubtless remember that the latter was the disguisedtramp who was so vindictive toward Tom, while Morse was the man whoendeavored to sneak in Mr. Swift's shop and steal a valuable invention.
"Well, Tom," proceeded the inventor, "there isn't much to tell. I wasout walking in the woods yesterday, and when I was behind a clump ofbushes I heard voices. I looked out and there I saw the two men."
"At first I thought they were trailing me, but I saw that they had notseen me, and I didn't see how they could know I was in theneighborhood. So I quietly made my way back to the hotel."
"Could you hear what they were saying?"
"Not all, but they seemed angry over something. The man with the bluering on his finger asked the other man whether Murdock had been heardfrom."
"Who is Murdock?"
"I don't know, unless he is another member of the gang or unless thatis an assumed name."
"It may be that. What else did you hear?"
"The man we know as Morse replied that he hadn't heard from him, butthat he suspected Murdock was playing a double game. Then thetramp--Happy Harry--asked this question: 'Have you any clew to thesparkler?' And Morse answered: 'No, but I think Murdock has hid itsomewhere and is trying to get away with it without giving us ourshare.' Then the two men walked away, and I came back to the hotel,"finished Mr. Swift.
"Sparkler," murmured Tom. "I wonder what that can be?"
"That's a slang word for diamonds," suggested Ned.
"So it is. In that case, dad, I think we have nothing to worry about.Those fellows must be going to commit a diamond robbery or perhaps ithas already taken place."
The inventor seemed relieved at this theory of his son. His facebrightened and he said: "If they are going to commit a robbery, Tom, weought to notify the police."
"But if they said that 'Murdock,' whoever he is, had the sparkler andwas trying to get away with it without giving them their share,wouldn't that indicate that the robbery had already taken place?" askedNed.
"That's so," agreed Tom. "But it won't do any harm to tell the hoteldetective that suspicious characters are around, no matter if the robberyhas been committed. Then he can be on the lookout. But I don't think wehave anything to worry about, dad. Still, if you like, I'll take a rundown to the house to see that everything is all right, though I'm sureit will be found that we have nothing to be alarmed over."
"Well, I will be more relieved if you do," said the inventor, "However,suppose we have a good supper now and you boys can stay at the hotelto-night. Then you and Ned can start off early in the morning."
"All right," agreed Tom, but there was a thoughtful look on his faceand he appeared to be planning something that needed careful attentionto details.
After supper that night Tom took his chum to one side and asked: "Wouldyou mind very much if you didn't make the trip to Shopton with me?"
"No, Tom, of course not, if it will help you any. Do you want me tostay here?"
"I think it will be a good plan. I don't like to leave dad alone ifthose scoundrels are around. Of course he's able to look afterhimself, but sometimes he gets absent minded from thinking too muchabout his inventions."
"Of course I'll stay here at the hotel. This is just as good avacation as I could wish."
"Oh, I don't mean all the while. Just a day or so--until I come back.I may be here again by to-morrow night and find that my father isneedlessly alarmed. Then something may have happened at home and Iwould be delayed. If I should be, I'd feel better to know that youwere here."
"Then I'll stay, and if I see any of those men--"
"You'd better steer clear of them," advised Tom quickly. "They aredangerous customers."
"All right. Then I'll go over and give Miss Nestor lessons on how torun a motor-boat," was the smiling response. "I fancy, with what sheand I know, we can make out pretty well."
"Hold on there!" cried Tom gaily. "No trespassing, you know."
"Oh, I'll just say I'm your agent," promised Ned with a grin. "Youcan't object to that."
"No, I s'pose not. Well, do the best you can. She is certainly a nicegirl."
"Yes, but you do seem to turn up at most opportune times. Luck iscertainly with you where she is concerned. First you save her in arunaway--"
"After I start the runaway," interrupted Tom.
"Then you take her for a ride in your motor-boat, and, lastly, you cometo her relief when she is stalled in the middle of the lake. Oh youcertainly are a lucky dog!"
"Never mind, I'm giving you a show. Now let's get to bed early, as Iwant to get a good start."
Tom awoke to find a nasty, drizzling rainstorm in progress, and thelake was almost hidden from view by a swirling fog. Still he was notto be daunted from his trip to Shopton by the weather, and, after asubstantial breakfast, he bade his father and Ned good-by and startedoff in the ARROW.
The canopy he had provided was an efficient protection against therain, a celluloid window in the forward hanging curtains affording hima view so that he could steer.
Through the mist puffed the boat, the motor being throttled down tomedium speed, for Tom was not as familiar with the lake as he wouldlike to have been, and he did not want to run aground or into anothercraft.
He was thinking over what his father had told him about the presence ofthe men and vainly wondering what might be their reference to the"sparkler." His thoughts also dwelt on the curious removal of thebracing block from under the gasoline tank of his boat.
"I shouldn't be surprised but what Andy Foger did that," he mused."Some day he and I will have a grand fight, and then maybe he'll let mealone. Well, I've got other things to think about now. The hoteldetective can keep a lookout for the men around the hotel, after thewarning I gave him, and I'll see that all is right at home."
The fog lifted somewhat and Tom put on more speed. As he was steeringthe boat along near shore he heard, off to the woods at his right, thereport of a gun. It came so suddenly that he jumped involuntarily. Amoment later there sounded, plainly through the damp air, a cry forhelp.
"Some one's hurt--shot!" cried the youth aloud.
He turned the boat in toward the bank. As he shut off the power fromthe motor he heard the cry again:
"Help! Help! Help!"
"I must go ashore!" he exclaimed. "Probably some one is badly woundedby a gun."
He paused for a moment as the fear came to him that it might be some ofthe patent thieves. Then, dismissing that idea as the ARROW's prowtouched the gravel, Tom sprang out, drew the boat up a little way,fastened the rope to a tree and hurried off into the dripping woods inthe direction of the voice that was calling for aid.