Air Mystery of Isle La Motte

by E. J. Craine

  X

  DANGER!!

  "I say, Jim, that was a queer thing for Corso to do!" The two wereputting the finishing touches on their toilet. From the dining room camethe voice of the man called Burnam, who seemed to do considerabletalking while he ate, but if his companion spoke again, his words wereinaudible.

  "Yes. Listen, Buddy, I think Corso knows that lad down there."

  "Maybe he does," Bob agreed, but that hadn't occurred to him.

  "Maybe we can help those two. Come on down, and if the bounders show adisposition to pump us, let's give them an earful."

  "Great guns, we don't want to tell him they are here--"

  "Of course not, you nut. We'll see what they lead up to. You follow mylead. Come along." They raced down stairs quietly and into the diningroom. Mrs. Fenton had finished serving the travelers and had gone to thecellar where she was rescuing preserves.

  "Good car you have," Jim remarked, and Burnam glanced at him.

  "Pretty good," he admitted. "Know anything about cars?"

  "Enough to run a flivver," Jim answered modestly. Burnam sized them upas a pair of country hicks and smiled broadly.

  "Interesting neighborhood around here," he ventured.

  "Oh, fair," Jim drawled.

  "Not many strangers," Burnam went on.

  "A sprinklin', but nobody wants them," Jim volunteered.

  "Exclusive community. What do you do with strangers?"

  "Leave 'em alone. There's a colony further up. Summer people, most fromcities, come every year."

  "Same ones all the time?"

  "Sure. Fellow who owns the land won't let 'em bring outsiders," the boyexplained taking a chair. "Enjoy your dinner?"

  "Fine. Ever have any southern people--"

  "Few," Jim admitted.

  "Chap I know and his nephew came around here for the fishing. He likedthe place. Perhaps you know him."

  "How long has he been coming?" Jim asked.

  "I understand last fall was the first time, come to think of it."

  "Nobody was here last fall," Jim declared positively. "What sort of chapis he, about your size?"

  "No, very slender fellow, dark skin and eyes, rather good looking." Jimlooked at Bob.

  "Maybe it's those ginks," he said scornfully.

  "Sounds like them," Bob admitted.

  "Where they stopping?" Burnam asked, eagerly.

  "They ain't," Jim grinned, then added, "They tried this neighborhood fora week, then went on into Canada. The station agent said their luggagewas shipped to Toronto."

  "You don't say." The big man seemed disappointed and the little onesmiled behind his napkin.

  "Chap like that wouldn't stay in so small a place," he remarked.

  "No, I suppose not. Well, can I pay you--"

  "Pay my brother," Jim answered, and strolled out of the house. In thesoft earth he had no difficulty in trailing Corso's foot prints and afew minutes later saw the man and the boy crouched in the garden wherethey were completely hidden from the road. "Hello," he said softly. "Itold those fellows that you two went to Toronto. Know where that is?"

  "I do," Corso answered.

  "I let them ask me questions, then told them you stayed here a week.They are so disgusted with the place I don't think they'll hang around,but you better keep out of sight. I'm going to escort them off theisland, but they don't know that."

  "Much in your debt we are, Sir," Corso said quietly. "We shall notforget, Sir." His eyes turned toward the road. "Bad men, Sir. Very, verybad men."

  "They don't look any too good," Jim admitted. "You stay here until oneof us comes and tells you they are gone." Jim strode quickly back towardthe house and as he crossed the road he saw Burnam getting into thelimousine.

  "Get a move on, Dyke," he growled, and the smaller chap hastily took hisplace. Motioning to his step-brother to keep quiet, Jim stepped behindthe huge maple, and when the car hacked into the road, he hopped ontothe spare tires, caught the strap and threw his legs over, ducking hishead so that if the men should either of them glance through the window,he would not be seem. The car raced off carrying the stow-a-way. "I toldyou those lads were in this part of the country," Burnam said shrillywhen they had gone some distance from Stumble Inn. "I know just how tohandle natives, and I got exactly the information we want."

  "Yes, but how the blazes do you expect to pick up the trail in Canada?"Dyke demanded in a lower tone.

  "It'll be easier than in the United States," the big fellow replied, andafter that he seemed to concentrate his whole attention on driving, forthe road was rough from the rains and the boy in the back was soonsplashed thickly with mud. Presently they came to the bridge whichconnected North Hero with Isle La Motte. Jim could see that the waterhad risen until it was splashing through the planking, and dozens of menwere working hard to keep it from being washed away. They were bringingthe biggest rocks they could haul and were distributing them in pilesfrom one end to the other. Young Austin hoped anxiously that none of theworkmen would call Burnam's attention to the extra passenger he wascarrying, but they passed over quickly, and if anyone noticed the boy,nothing was done about it. They probably thought him a hiker tired ofwalking and unable to get a lift on his way. The car sped on to thestation, but it was deserted, and Jim was mighty thankful that no agentwas there to answer inquiries regarding the travelers who were supposedto have gone on to Toronto. Half a mile ahead the machine had to slow upfor a sharp curve, so feeling confident that the pair were really headedfor Canada, the boy dropped off and started to trudge home. Agood-natured farmer gave him a lift, and at last he saw Bob anxiouslyscanning the road.

  "Gosh all hemlock, I was going into the air to look for you. Say, comeon, quick." He led the way to the water's edge, and far across thethrashing lake Jim saw a tiny boat, with an outboard motor on the stern,chugging valiantly against the waves and making for Fisher's Island.

  "Who is it?" Jim demanded.

  "Corso and the boy. I saw them a few minutes after they left the shore.They have a load of stuff aboard as if they intend to hide over there,"Bob explained.

  "Gee, I wonder if it's safe!" Jim said anxiously.

  "I asked Uncle Norman and he said the greater part of the land is underwater now, but there are high spots that may serve them. Let's keep aneye on the place, Jim. I think that pair is all right, and gosh, I'dhate like fury to have them carried away in this. Just look at it." Jimdidn't need to look any more than he had for as far as he could see, thewreckage, large and small, was being tossed and dashed to splinters.

  "So should I. We'll keep watch, then if it looks bad we'll go after themin Her Highness. I say, did you happen to notice the number of thatlimousine? I, like a dub, forgot to look at it."

  "I wrote it down," Bob answered proudly, and he produced the figures.

  "Good work. I'm going to call up Ruhel and tell him to be on thelook-out for that pair. They're no good and the Mounties will keep themunder observation." He hurried into the house, called long distance, andin five minutes was telling the story to the chief, who listened withinterest.

  "Thanks no end, Old Man. I take it you'd like us to let them roam aroundhere for a while and give your friends a chance."

  "That's the idea."

  "We'll keep them hunting. It will do them good. Oh, by the way, I say,what time did you lads breeze in to your house this morning--"

  "Don't ask personal questions," Jim retorted.

  "I don't have to, I know. Mason came in this afternoon and told thestory. You knights had some night. I hope they pin something on you--"

  "Probably they will. We ought to have a lemon. Well, thanks forlistening."

  "Same to you." The connection was cut off, and Jim joined hisstep-brother on the veranda.

  "Listen, Buddy, that watch dog Uncle Norman bought, died this morning,and now the other one is sick. What do you know about that?"

  "Rotten. Wonder if there was anything the matter with th
em when theyarrived, or if some one over there didn't want watch dogs?"

  "Hezzy?"

  "That's the lad I'm going to keep an eye on. Gosh." He jumped to hisfeet and started to walk toward the garden. "For a quiet little place,we surely have found no end of excitement since we landed."

  "It hasn't been exactly dull," Bob admitted. They went on in silence andat last they reached the edge of the alfalfa meadow. The stones thestrange boy had been working with a few days before were neatly arrangedin a low wall, and the land above was terraced as if by someone skilledin the art. The whole section which the Fenton's had called the bog hadbeen plowed, smoothed on a slight incline toward the lake, which leftthe garden side lower than that land, and this also was built up with acleverly set curb of stones. There were three small outlets which actedas drains, and in spite of the heavy rains the land was comparativelydry.

  "Well, anyway, your uncle has got this work to be thankful for. It surelooks like a grand piece of land. Perhaps he can plant it with somethingthat he can harvest this season. Must be odd to be in a place where thesummers are as short as they are here. I'd like to see it in the fall.It must be quite a sight."

  "I'd like to see it in the winter. Mom says the lake freezes over, andthe people who live near cut ice, and they can cross to New York, or anyplace they want to go. They drive, have races and skate," Bobvolunteered.

  "We can't stay to see all that," Jim said regretfully. "The parentswouldn't stand for it."

  "No, I know it."

  "Supper," Mr. Fenton called, and the boys made their way back to thehouse. They were very thoughtful as they took their places, and the foodwas eaten in silence.

  "Any more turkey's stolen, Uncle Norman?"

  "Some were taken last night," the man answered. Just then the telephonerang and Aunt Belle answered.

  "The Norman's are going to stay here all night," she said quietly."Their house is flooded above the kitchen."

  That evening Stumble Inn was filled to the brim with neighbors. Belatedsupper was served to refugees who straggled in, and the two boys turnedto and helped. They carried down cots, made beds, washed dishes, turnedhorses into the pasture, and drove cattle into the meadow. It was lateat night when they were repairing a place in the fence to be sure thatthe nervous stock did not break through and get away. When the job wasfinished, they made their way back to the house, and all along the roadthey could see tents pitched, or families gathered about their cars orwagons prepared to sleep out of doors. The protection they had was frailand if another storm should come up suddenly half their worldly goodswould be swept into Champlain.

  In spite of their dilemma the Vermonters were facing their troublesquietly and without a whimper. Although there were as many as fiftypeople within earshot, hardly a sound could be heard. Then a child,whose sleeping quarters was under the big maple, cried in fright. Themother tried to hush it, but the little fellow's terror did notdiminish. Without an instant's hesitation, Bob leaned over the wagon.

  "Don't be afraid, little fellow. You come on in and sleep--"

  "There isn't any room in your aunt's house, Bob," the woman answered."She would have taken us if she could."

  "Come along anyway," Bob insisted. He picked the boy up in his arms,while Jim offered to help the woman.

  "I'll he all right here," she answered, "if you can find a place for thechildren." A little girl raised her head.

  "Come on, Old Man," Bob urged. The boy came to him willingly, and thegirl reached her arms out to Jim. Together the two went to the house.The living-room door was wide open, and there were beds spread out onthe chairs as well as the floor.

  "I put some more beds in your room, boys," Aunt Belle said softly.

  "Anyone in our cots?" Bob asked.

  "No," she answered.

  "We'll put the babies on them, Aunt Belle. You don't mind, do you?"

  "Of course not, Bob, but where will you sleep?"

  "Oh, in one of the hammocks--"

  "You can't, my dear, they are all full."

  "We'll find a place. Aunt Belle, maybe you'd better come along. We don'tknow much about little fellows." They started to climb the stairs andhis aunt followed. It did not take long for the little codgers to betucked in comfortably, and in a moment they were both asleep. It seemedto the boys as if the very air was charged with impending danger as theywent down stairs again. Some of the Vermont men and women were sittingaround on newspapers on the lawn. They spoke softly, partly because oftheir friends trying to rest, and partly because they were making abrave effort to face the disaster courageously.

  "Heard that no more trains can get through," one man remarked.

  "Ed Allen's prize sheep ran into the lake and were carried away," saidanother.

  "Something frightened them."

  "The lower end of Canada is in a bad way. The border men asked for allthe milk they could get, even if it's sour."

  "Expect we better do some sort of organizing and see what we have,"another proposed. "Let's talk it over with Fenton." The boys moved onand sat down against the shed.

  "Say Jim, know what this makes me think of, these people I mean?"

  "Makes me think of so much, I'm getting brain-storm," Jim answered, buthis tone was sober.

  "The history we read--these Vermonters. Those Allen boys. Did you knowthe two towns, North Hero and South Hero are given those names becauseof the brothers, and a lot of their original tract of land is still inthe families' possession?"

  "I heard your mother say so. They were a great gang."

  "Sure were. Well, I was thinking how these people, some of them membersof those old families, still stand shoulder to shoulder. Of course mostfolks are pretty decent when neighbors are in trouble, but here they arealso quiet and sure of each other. No wonder they are considered a finelot. A couple of hundred years ago just a handful of them bucked againstthe hardships and won out. Now, Uncle Norman and Aunt Belle are facingruin maybe, but they are right with their neighbors, ready to shareeverything they have as long as they have it--you see what I mean--it'sa great spirit, I think."

  "So do I. I say, let's see if we can find a couple of blankets and sleepout here," Jim proposed.

  "Suits me," Bob agreed. They had no trouble finding bedding and soonthey were ready to turn in. Before they did, they stood staring offacross the black water of Lake Champlain.

  "I say, isn't that a light over there on Fisher's?"

  "Was just watching it. Perhaps it's Corso's fire. Gosh, that meansthey're all right and I'm glad of that." They watched the tiny streak ofred that burned cheerily in the darkness, but finally they stretched outand were soon asleep.