Part 14 (1/2)

”Good enough. That's where we're going, too.”

”It's me for the submarine launching today,” Eph remarked, rather ungrammatically. ”I wouldn't miss that for the world.”

”Nor would we, either,” added Hal. ”Especially, as we've helped in the work on her. And, gracious, what time is it?”

”Just about eight o'clock,” replied Somers, consulting his watch.

”And the launching is at ten o'clock. Come; we must hustle along. What will Mr. Farnum be thinking of us?”

”He probably believes _we_ stole the money, and he must have officers out looking for us by this time,” hinted Jack; with a wry face.

Jack thought, to be sure, of Josh Owen, back there in the woods, but clearly it would be out of place to ask Eph Somers to go back and attend to the ex-foreman. Besides, they could all soon be in Dunhaven, and then a constable or two could be sent out to search.

At first, Dan tried his old tactics of balking, but a few energetic, rough-and-ready punches from Eph caused the bully to change his mind.

After that he went along in sullen silence. It was not long before the quartette turned down into the sh.o.r.e road that led up to the boatyard.

As they came near the big gate, still closed to the public, the boys beheld a crowd of several Hundred people. There were many vehicles and automobiles there, also.

”Here come those boys! Hey, young fellows, the officers are looking for you!” shouted someone.

”I guess so,” admitted Jack, dryly. ”However, they won't want us. Let us through this crowd, please. We want to find Mr. Farnum without delay.”

The new watchman, at the gate, admitted them without question. Eph Somers, being of the party, got into the yard also, without any difficulty.

It being, now, less than two hours before the time set for the launching of the ”Pollard,” both the yard's owner and the inventor were with the gang of workmen that was busy removing the water end of the submarine craft's construction shed.

”Here come Benson and Hastings,” called Grant Andrews, catching sight of the boys.

Jacob Farnum turned to look at them, then came on the run.

”I hear you have put officers out, after us, and I don't blame you,”

smiled Jack, rather grimly. ”However, we didn't run away with your money, and we would have been back last night had that been possible.”

”I could hardly bring myself to believe that you had absconded,” cried Mr. Farnum, ruefully. ”I sent officers out on the trail as much to learn what had happened to you as for any other reason. The horse came in with the buggy last night, and I knew something was wrong. But this fellow, Jaggers--”

”He and Owen tricked us and got us last night,” explained Benson. ”I don't, believe they knew anything about the money. They just wanted to beat us to their heart's content. But they found the money, and--but I'd better begin at the beginning.”

This Jack did, soon putting Mr. Farnum in possession of the whole story.

”I'll send two men with Jaggers, to turn him over to the constable,”

remarked Mr. Farnum. ”I'll also send the alarm out so that Josh Owen may be caught. Both these fellows must have their full deserts.”

”Perhaps, first of all, you'll take this money,” urged Jack, producing the roll of banknotes. ”Count it over, will you please, sir?”

Mr. Farnum rapidly counted. ”Just eight hundred,” he nodded. ”But, according to your story, it ought to be five dollars short, on account of what this rascal, Jaggers, took out to spend.”

”We've made that good out of some of our own money that the pair took away from us, and which we got back with yours.”

”You won't do anything of the sort,” retorted Mr. Farnum, thrusting the money down in one of his pockets. ”I owe you that five, besides your commission of forty dollars. And I'll settle with you just as soon as we get our rush off. But now--you haven't had any breakfast.

Rush up to the hotel and get it at my expense. Then be sure to be back here before ten o'clock. And say, boys, you're the right kind of material--both of you. I hope to keep you with us.”