by E. J. Craine
IV
A MYSTERIOUS FIND
The next morning broke clear and beautiful as only a late spring day canstart. The step-brothers found Aunt Belle busy canning rhubarb, and sheeyed the two dozen jars with keen satisfaction.
"There, that's finished," she announced.
"Did you do all that this morning?" Jim asked for the sun was hardlywell out of the Lake and was sending a golden path dancing across thewater.
"Land o' Goodness, yes. Tomorrow I'm going to make some dandelion wine,and before sun-up is the best time of day to get work done, to my way ofthinking," she replied as she bustled about getting the meal ready.
"Then suppose we give you that joy-ride right after breakfast," Jimproposed, and he looked at her to see if she had changed her mind.
"Land o' Goodness, you boys don't believe in giving a body a minute toworry over doing a thing like that. I don't know--"
"There's no time like the present," Bob teased her, and she smiled.
"I might's well get it over with and it will be a real experience. I canthink of it all winter. All right." They both had a hunch that she waseager for the adventure, but she was mighty nervous about it, just thesame. "It's kind of like going to have an operation or a tooth pulled,"she told them and they laughed.
"You won't feel that way about it when you come back."
"Coming back will be a relief, like when the tooth or the appendix hasbeen taken out. I suppose I'll be kind of shaky and queer, but the agonywill be over. Now, you sit right down and help yourselves. Norman toldme to be sure to wrap up warm." She hurried away and the boys grinned,then obeyed orders. By the time they had finished, Mrs. Fenton appeared,wrapped from head to foot almost like an Eskimo. Her lips were setgrimly and her fists were clenched for the ordeal.
"Now, don't you be afraid, Aunt Belle. It isn't any worse than sittingin a rocking chair, and it's much more exciting."
"I expect you're right. It was exciting watching you drop out of the skyon a streak of lightning yesterday," she gave a nervous giggle.
"We won't stay up very long, and if we see the tiniest cloud, we'llbring you right back," Jim promised.
Fifteen minutes later they were ready for the start. Aunt Belle had beengiven advice and instructions, strapped fast and parachuted in case ofan emergency, her head encased in one of her nephew's helmets andgoggles adjusted so she could pull them down. The speaking tube andfield glasses were close at hand. This trip Jim was in the back seatwhile his step-brother was beside the passenger. Not a word did the ladyutter during the preliminaries, but when young Austin called that allwas as it should be in the rear, she braced herself stiffly, herfrightened eyes searching the velvety-blue heavens for a sign of a cloudwhich might possibly spell danger.
"All set!" Bob shouted as he opened her for an easy take-off.
Her Highness seemed to realize the importance of behaving like a memberof the royal family and did her part like a charm. She skimmed over thelake, circled widely, nosed up speculatively, lifted slowly on a longgradual climb, the motion of which was truly as pleasant as being rockedcomfortably in a grandmother's big chair. Up they went five hundred feetand by that time they were beyond the south end of Fisher's Island andsailing gaily toward the narrows below the Point. Bob leveled off, theysoared ahead, came partly around and climbed again at easy stages untilthe altimeter registered twelve hundred feet. The boy was glad that hisaunt had asked no questions about the control board. Her Highness roaredacross North Hero Island, turned south again toward Grand Isle, thencurved to come back. By that time Mrs. Fenton was wearing a verysurprised look, and a moment later, she gave a relieved sigh, relaxed,and even sat up a little. Her lips moved and the boy knew that she wassaying:
"My land o' goodness."
"Look," he pointed ahead and she followed the direction with interest,and after five minutes more, she was gazing over the side with fineunconcern. Then Bob pressed the glasses upon her, and she raised them toher eyes, and smiled at the wonders she beheld.
As Mrs. Fenton had never been "joy riding" before, the boys had agreednot to keep her up too long this first trip, so Bob brought Her Highnessabout, roared over the country his aunt knew; crossed the island abovethe bridge which connects North Hero with Isle La Motte, and curved overthe latter stretch of land until they were sailing on a line with theturkey farm.
Jim in the back seat had time for observation, so he took a good look atthe place. He had no difficulty in making out the ancient homestead, theold house where he guessed that Hezzy Burley, the poultry man, livedwith his helpers. Close by were a number of hatcheries, and furtheralong high wire-covered pens where turkeys, young and old, struttedtimidly. The boy didn't have time to get a bird's-eye view of the wholefarm, but he did notice that it came down to the lake on one side, andstretched back over a belt of timber and beyond a hill which looked asif it might be a very delightful place to ramble, but no good forlanding a plane. As he glanced with interest at the Fenton property, hethought he saw some men in a ravine and decided they were hikers, ormerely out for a stroll. Then, suddenly it occurred to him that they hadno business on the property and it might be a good idea to tell Mr.Fenton and have Hezzy keep on the lookout for them. The boy wondered ifthe watch dogs had arrived, but his mental query was answeredimmediately, for he saw two dogs racing down to the water, and both ofthem plunged in for a swim. They looked like a very capable pair and hehoped they would be able to save Bob's uncle from having to mark offanother bad year in his turkey business.
Her Highness was now soaring as gracefully as the white gulls theypassed on the water, and Bob shut off the engine. The plane began abeautiful descent, and in a minute more she was floating toward thepier.
"Well, how's the tooth, Aunt Belle?" Bob teased.
"My land sakes alive, if it isn't the beatinest. There, I never slept awink all night thinking about it, wishin' I'd been a better Christian incase I never got down to earth again, and all that worry--"
"Was a dead loss," Jim laughed.
"Yes it was," she admitted honestly. "It was just marvelous. Now, I'vegot to hurry. My fruit man comes through in a few minutes and I wantsome lemons. Tourists say this fruit wagon is kind of interesting andcurious, maybe you boys would like to look at it," she invited. "Itcomes from Montreal, through the customs, and we can buy things cheaperthan we can get them from our own stores. It seems queer, but it's so."They had unstrapped her and she smiled.
"I'd like to see him. We have some queer covered wagons that are driventhrough Texas. How did you like the ride?"
"A lot, and I'm ever so much obliged to you both. My land o'goodness--Imustn't forget to write to your mother and tell her I've been up withyou. Her Highness is real pretty, isn't she!"
"We think she is," Bob answered with pride.
"You got a right to think that." Aunt Belle stood a moment to admire theplane, which did look particularly lovely as the sun shone on her broadwings, and the water beneath her, splashed gently about the floats."She's a beauty."
"I saw some men, hikers I guess, back of your turkey farm," Jimvolunteered as they went toward the house.
"There's a lot of people living at the north end of the Isle, and theyare likely to go roaming all over the place. Sometimes the schoolteachers take nature classes to study the trees, and the Boy Scoutsasked permission to camp there. Hezzy knows them all and he lets them goparts where they won't do any damage or scare the birds."
"Probably it's all right then." Jim dismissed the idea that he mighthave spotted something important, and followed the others into thehouse.
"I got some bananas, Mees Fenton." It was a soft pleasant voice thatspoke, and the lips were parted in a wide smile.
"Little Greaser?" Bob said in an undertone.
"More likely little Canuck," Jim reminded him. "And he's not so littleat that." The man was certainly picturesque in his baggy trousers, tiedat the knees with pieces of new hemp, a red flannel shirt, and velve
tjacket. He stood over six feet in his moccasins, which were of thickdeer skin, and he might have been taller, but the weight of his hat musthave kept him down.
"I'll be right out, Pedro," Mrs. Fenton called and she hurried away torid herself of the extra clothing she had donned for the air ride. Thetwo boys strolled out on the veranda to wait for her, and they could seethe huge covered truck standing under the shade of two of the maplesthat edged the winding main road. Being sure of a customer, Pedroproceeded to his wagon, opened the end doors, leaped lightly over thetail board, and disappeared.
"Cracky, it doesn't look like any wagon I ever saw before," said Bob.
"No." They studied it with interest. It was heavily built, evidentlyconstructed for long hauls and to carry heavy loads. The "cover" was ofwood and metal, and the whole thing was painted a brilliant red and deepblue.
"Anyone would recognize that as far as he could see it," laughed Bob."Oh, here you are." Mrs. Fenton came out with a basket on her arm andthe three made their way to the caravan.
"Do all these peddlers have wagons like that?" Jim wanted to know.
"Good land, no, only Pedro. He had it made specially. Fills it up inCanada. He has to carry a great deal of truck to make it pay becausesome of the customs are high," she explained.
"Does he pick up American goods to take back?"
"Yes, and sometimes he does a little freighting when he can't buy ourfarm products." They had reached the end of the wagon, and the boys wereamazed at its capacity. It seemed to hold a store full of goods. Besidesthe early vegetables, lemons, bananas, oranges, and pineapples, therewere moccasins, Indian bows and arrows for youthful purchasers, brightblankets, and some skins hanging from the top. Mrs. Fenton looked overthe wares, made her selection, and finally the transaction wascompleted. Pedro got a pail of water from the lake and gave his engine adrink, then climbed into the seat, waved cheerfully, and thunderedcolorfully off toward the next farm. In a minute he disappeared over thehill, but it took longer for the noise of his machine to diminish in thedistance.
"Golly, he could take half the State over the border in that bus," Bobdeclared, then added as he saw the foreign boy coming from the garden,"Here's our friend. Hello," he called. The boy stopped, eyed themkeenly, then smiled and showed a set of teeth so perfect that anydentist would have given half his kingdom to use his picture in anadvertisement.
"Old Top, so long."
"Guess that will hold you for a while," Jim roared. "You are dismissed,my brother, Old Top."
"Aw I say, that's wrong. Hello!"
"Aw," the boy repeated--"Aw, hello."
"That's more like it." He pointed to his step-brother. "Jim." The boylooked at Jim, who flushed under the scrutiny. "Jim," Bob said again.
"Jimmm?"
"You got it. Jim."
"Aw, Old Top; Jim, so long; hello."
"Will you listen to the vocabulary. Ain't that marvelous!"
"It ain't," Jim scowled, then he pointed to Bob. "Bob," he explained.The boy seemed to understand that it was some sort of introduction.
"It ain't Bob?"
"Yes it is," Bob insisted, pointing to himself. "Bob."
"Bob? Jim?"
"Great," they both nodded gleefully. "You're a regular chatterbox."
The boy repeated the words he had learned and seemed to enjoy the soundof them. Then he stood a moment, straight as a young sapling, theexpression on his face changed to a sober one, and into his deep, fineeyes, came a thoughtful look, which seemed to be habitual to them. Asthey met his gaze, any desire they might have had to have fun with him,disappeared, and the step-brothers felt a strong urge inside them tobefriend this young foreigner.
"Bet my share of Her Highness against a plugged dime that he'd make agreat pal," Jim remarked.
"I'm not taking you up. Let's see if we can't teach him more English.That won't be butting in," Bob proposed.
"Maybe we can do a little," Jim agreed. But just then a soft whistlecame from further up the road and the boy turned quickly, leaped overthe low fence and started toward the sound. The boys watched him until amoment later he joined his Uncle, who had evidently called. They bothhurried in the direction of the lake, and a few minutes later, the youngAmericans heard the dip of oars as a boat was shoved off onto the water.Aimlessly Jim and Bob followed more slowly until they were standing onthe shore, and they could see the boat skimming swiftly north.
"They parked it here. Guess they're going home to lunch, and it's easierthan walking up the road," Jim suggested. He glanced at the marks on therocks and sand where the boat had been left. Bob stared at the spot asif he expected to learn something of the two mysterious persons who hadjust left it.
"Here's a can, or something." Bob stooped and picked up a small coveredbox. It was somewhat the shape of a tobacco box such as men carry intheir pockets, and was no more than an inch thick.
"That isn't tin. Maybe they dropped it," Jim said as he turned it overin his hand.
"Say, know what that looks like?"
"A box--"
"Sure, but the metal looks like my silver watch did--you remember it gotalmost coal-black--sort of brownish."
"So it does. Guess this is silver. We better keep it, and if it belongsto the kid, return it to him."
"Sure. If it doesn't belong to him, Aunt Belle may know who owns it. Momsaid that in a little place like this everybody knows all about whateverybody else owns." Jim turned the thing over in his hand again, gaveit a little shake, and as he did so, the cover sprang back, as if he hadpressed a concealed spring.
"Well, look here," he exclaimed. The two looked inside but all theycould see was some bits of colored string. Carefully Jim took hold ofone and gave a little pull.
"You'd better not do that. The string may be around something real smalland you'll lose it," Bob suggested, but before the words were out of hismouth, the entire contents was in Jim's hand. "What do you make ofthat?"
"Maybe the kid has been trying to be a Boy Scout. It's nothing butcolored strings full of knots, but it's a queer sort of string at that.I never saw anything like it--"
"You'd better put it back," Bob urged. "It isn't any good, but if thekid was having fun with it, we don't want to be goops--" Both boysturned quickly as they heard the sound of oars being plied swiftly as ifsomeone were rowing in a great hurry. "He's coming back." Hastily Jimstuffed the odd looking string back into its container and snapped thelid shut.
"Wish I hadn't been such an inquisitive boob," he muttered. By that timethe boy and his uncle had almost reached the spot, and both of themseemed to be anxious about something.
"Did you drop a little box here?" Bob called as the boy leaned on theoars to let the boat come ashore. Corso's face lighted with relief, asif the thing they had lost were of great value.
"Yes, sir," he answered.
"Well, that's good. We just picked it up." Jim stepped hastily forwardand restored the find to its owners, but to his surprise, they bothleaped out.
"Much sirs, we thank you." The man took Jim's hand, and to that pureyoung American's utter embarrassment, stooped and kissed it. Hastily liedrew it back.
"Aw, that's all right," he said in confusion.
"Glad we saw it before the waves carried it off," Bob declared. He wascongratulating himself that it was his step-brother who received thehomage, but his delight was short-lived, for the boy took his hand andperformed as did his uncle.
"Much thanks, Bob--Jim," he said chokily.
"Aw, it isn't anything to make a fuss over," Bob answered quickly, andhis face flushed to the roots of his hair. In his heart he was glad thatnone of the cowpunchers from Cap Rock were there to witness such adisplay of gratitude.
"Much thanks," the uncle said again, and the two backed away.
"Don't mention it," Jim said hastily. "We have to go, or we'll be latefor lunch. We would have given it to you this afternoon if you hadn'tcome for it." They both bowed low, then sprang into the boat and rowedoff, but now their faces were wreathed in smiles and as t
he distancegrew between them and the shore, they began a sort of chant whichsounded like the wind sighing through the cedars.
"Come along, let's get a move on. I don't want to be kissed any more.Gosh, they must be French," Bob exclaimed, and the two started to run asif the Old Harry were after them. When they came in sight of the house,they stopped. "I'm not going to tell anyone about that box."
"Mum's the word. If we tell about finding it, we'll have to tell aboutgiving it back. Perhaps it's some sort of heirloom, but it sure is aqueer sort of thing to make such a fuss over."
"I'll say, maybe now that we gave it back, Corso and the boy will befriendly and we can ask them where they came from--"
"Maybe we can, but we're not going to be little interrogation pointsunless they give us the information without our asking for it. Dad saysa gentleman recognizes another gentleman and they treat each otheraccordingly--"
"Well, that's O. K. with me," Bob nodded. "But I thought we might get ananswer to one of the mysteries."
