Part 10 (2/2)

The days from Tuesday to Sat.u.r.day had been full of suspense and torment to those most interested. Horace Dunstan had lost his easy-going air. He started at the slightest sound; he hurried up whenever he heard others talking. Every new sound gave him hope that his son was about to appear in the flesh.

Far from slow had the search been. Mr. Dunstan's messages had brought a score of detectives to the scene. Some of these, aided by the local constables, had scoured the island of Nantucket unavailingly. The greater number of the detectives, however, had operated on the mainland, their operations extending even to Boston and New York.

Yet not a sign of the missing boy had been found. There was not a single clew to his fate, beyond the little that Tom Halstead and Joe Dawson had been able to tell concerning Alvarez and the florid-faced American.

Halstead's notion about Farmer Sanderson's ”machinery” had crystallized into the belief that the cases of ”machinery” received by the farmer were in reality cases of arms and ammunition, intended to be s.h.i.+pped to aid some new revolution in Honduras. Alvarez and the florid-faced man, the latter undoubtedly a seafaring man, might justly be suspected of being employed in some scheme to smuggle military supplies to Honduras.

Tom had read in the newspapers, more than once, that filibusters sending military supplies to Central American republics label their cases of goods ”machinery” in order to get past vigilant eyes unsuspected.

Gregory Dunstan was known to be interested in revolutionary movements, and Farmer Sanderson might be suspected of helping Alvarez and other filibusters by having arms and ammunition s.h.i.+pped to him as machinery, and afterwards slipped out of the country from the end of the farmer's pier on some dark, stormy night. Moreover, Gregory Dunstan and his friends were the sole ones who could be interested in having Master Ted vanish at such a time. All parts of the theory fitted nicely together, Tom thought, and Horace Dunstan agreed with him.

Yet anything relating to attempts by filibusters to s.h.i.+p arms secretly to another country should be brought to the notice of the United States Government. So Mr. Dunstan wrote fully to the authorities at Was.h.i.+ngton, who, so far, had not taken the pains to reply to his communication.

During these days the ”Meteor” had been almost constantly in service.

Tom and Joe felt nearly used up, so incessant had been their work. Jed Prentiss was now aboard, for, with detectives arriving and departing at all hours, there was frequently need of serving a visitor with a meal while the ”Meteor” dashed over the waves to or from Nantucket. Jed was enjoying himself despite his long hours and hard work. He even found time to hang about Joe and learn much about the running of the motor.

By Sat.u.r.day noon Horace Dunstan, who seemed to have aged much, gave up the notion that his detectives could aid him at Nantucket. The last three on the island were sent over to Wood's Hole on the ”Meteor,” with instructions to help the men at work on the case on the mainland.

”Thank goodness, we're through with 'em,” grunted Jed, leaving the galley and coming up through the engine room hatchway. ”I hope we'll get a breathing spell to-morrow.”

”We've had a brisk four days of it,” nodded Tom. ”I wouldn't mind that at all, if only we had gotten any nearer to finding Ted. But all this work and nothing gained is enough to wear a fellow out.”

It was a part of Tom's nature that he felt keenly all of his employer's worries over the missing Ted, It worried Halstead, too, to think of any boy hopelessly losing such a huge fortune as was at stake.

”If only we could find Alvarez, and get a good grip on him,” growled Halstead, as Joe came up on deck, ”I'd feel almost warranted in torturing him until he told all he knew.”

Joe nodded gravely, then suddenly grinned.

”I can imagine anyone as big-hearted as you are, Tom, putting any human being to the torture.”

”I said I'd _almost_ be willing to” insisted Tom.

”Well, you won't find Alvarez, so what's the use of arguing?” asked Dawson, slowly. ”He and his red-faced friend have skipped away from this part of the country, I believe.”

”And Mr. Dunstan has only until Monday,” sighed Halstead. ”And Ted to lose millions! Did you ever hear of a case of such tough luck before?”

Jed began to whistle sympathetically. He, too, would have given worlds to be able to pounce upon the vanished Ted. For young Prentiss was all loyalty. Having entered the Dunstan employ, he felt all the sorrows of the family. The more he thought about the affair the more restless the whistling boy became.

”How long are we tied up here for?” demanded Jed, at last.

”Until the late afternoon train gets in from Boston,” Tom answered, listlessly. ”Mr. Dunstan is expecting Mr. Crane, his lawyer, along. If Mr. Crane doesn't arrive we've got to come over again to-morrow morning.”

Jed glanced at the clock before the steering wheel.

”Hours to wait,” he went on, dismally. ”Well, I'm going ash.o.r.e to stretch my legs, if there's no objection.”

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