Part 7 (1/2)
”Why, Clodis carried the papers in a money-belt, and, in undressing him, we found that belt gone.”
”Have you looked through the baggage that we brought ash.o.r.e with Mr.
Clodis?”
”I haven't thought of it. Haven't had time,” replied Mr. Seaton. ”But I will now. Mr. Clodis's steamer trunk is in the room with him. We'll bring it out, and search.”
Tom and Hank brought the trunk out.
”The lock hasn't been tampered with, you see, sir,” suggested Halstead.
”Here are Clodis's keys,” replied Powell Seaton, producing a ring. One of the keys he fitted to the trunk lock, next throwing up the lid.
After rummaging for a few moments, Mr. Seaton brought up a sealed envelope from the bottom of the trunk.
”Dalton _would_ have been glad to get this,” he cried, with a near approach to delight.
”Lock it up tight in your innermost pockets then, sir,” counseled Tom Halstead. ”The contents of that envelope must be what Dalton has come back here for, or sent someone else for. And, until he gets it, he must plan to keep Lonely Island out of touch with the whole world.
We'll hear from him again to-night, I'm thinking.”
”Will we?” flared Mr. Seaton, stepping briskly across the room.
Unlocking a cupboard door, he brought out a repeating shot-gun. From an ammunition box he helped himself to several sh.e.l.ls, fitting six of them into the magazine of the gun.
”Buckshot talks, sometimes,” said the owner of the bungalow, more quietly. ”I shall be awake to-night, and have this gun always with me.”
”Have you any other weapons, sir?” asked Tom.
”Yes; a revolver--here it is.”
Powell Seaton held out the weapon, but Halstead shook his head.
”Dr. Cosgrove is the one who'll want that, since he must stay by Mr.
Clodis to-night. And, see here, Mr. Seaton, impress upon the doctor that he mustn't take a nap, even for a moment. As for you, you'll want to be watching the house in general.”
”Why, where will you young men be?” inquired Mr. Seaton.
”We couldn't stay indoors, with our boat gone, sir,” Tom answered.
”The first thing we must do is to explore all around the island. Even if we don't get a sign of the 'Restless,' we may find out something else. We may be able to catch someone trying to land on this island later to-night.”
”Yes; it will be best to have guards outside roaming about the island,” admitted Powell Seaton, readily. Then, lowering his voice as he signed to the Motor Boat Club boys to draw closer to him, Mr.
Seaton added:
”Something, of some nature, _will_ be attempted to-night. There is no other sound explanation of the crippling of the wireless and the stealing of the boat. So be vigilant, boys--as I shall also be while you're gone.”
Hank helped himself to a fresh club--a stouter one than that which he had broken over the snubbing post at the dock. Then out into the black night fared the three Motor Boat Club boys.
”Shall we keep together, or spread?” asked Joe Dawson.
”Together,” nodded Tom Halstead. ”If there are prowlers about, we can't tell how soon three of us may be even too few. Remember, we have only firewood to fight with, and we don't know what kind of men we may run up against.”