Part 19 (2/2)
”No, I thank you,” added Dory; and he declined to take any further notice of his persecutor.
For the present the excitement was ended. It was about seven in the morning, as Dory judged by the height of the sun. Thad got out the provisions; and, though there was not much variety to the repast, the boys ate heartily. After the meal some of them went to sleep. Before ten o'clock the Goldwing was alongside the wharf, in the position where Dory had first seen her.
The skipper lowered the sails with the help of the rest of the club, though Corny was still too much disgruntled to do any thing. Every thing was put in order on board, and Dory locked the cabin. Before he had finished, Corny went off alone. Just as the party were going to leave the wharf, a couple of men came down. They walked directly to the boat, as though they had seen her coming up the bay, and had business with her.
”Is this the boat that went off from here yesterday morning?” asked one of the men.
”Yes, sir: this is the boat,” replied Dory, hoping that the men's business related to the charge against him.
”Are you the boy that bought her?” continued the man who did the talking.
”Yes, sir: I am the one that bought her and paid for her,” answered Dory. ”Do you know of anybody in this town that wants to see me?”
”I can't say I do,” said the man, looking at the other one, and laughing.
”There was a little steamer here in the forenoon.”
”That was the Missisquoi.”
”A man went off in her to look up this boat. Have you seen any thing of the steamer?” asked the man.
”Yes, sir: she is hard and fast aground on the Colchester shoal, near Law Island. The man that went in her to look up this boat was Pearl Hawlinshed. I don't believe in him, and I kept out of the way of him and his steamer.”
”How could you keep out of the way of a steamer in a sailboat?”
”I managed it. But I didn't know till he hailed me from the steamer that I was charged with stealing some money from one of the hotels. Can you tell me any thing about the matter, sir?”
”I think we can tell you all about it,” replied the speaker. ”This is Mr. Moody, the man that lost the money.”
”And this is Mr. Peppers, the detective, who is looking up the case,”
added Mr. Moody.
”As soon as I heard about it, I came back to face the music,” said Dory.
”Your name is Dory Dornwood, I learn,” said Mr. Peppers.
”Theodore Dornwood is my name, but I am called 'Dory.'”
”Just now we are rather more anxious to find the other man than we are to get hold of you,” continued Peppers. ”I don't believe there will be much music for you to face, Dory.”
”But Mr. Hawlinshed said I was wanted here, and I have come. Is he an officer?” asked Dory.
”He is no officer, and he had no right to arrest you.”
”Hallo, fellows!” shouted Corny Minkfield, coming down the wharf: ”there is a steamer over here which is going to Burlington, and we can go in her.”
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