Part 32 (2/2)
That there were papers in existence which would show the widow and her daughter to be the rightful owners Cora did not doubt. Freda's grandfather, from all accounts, was a careful business man, if eccentric in some ways. He would not have come into possession of property without having the papers to prove his claim. And he was not a man to put them in some safe deposit vault and leave no memorandum as to finding the key.
Perhaps they were concealed in some nook or cranny in the widow's home. Cora made up her mind to have a search made after this night was over.
Then, too, Denny might be able to come upon them. Eccentric in some ways, as Freda's grandfather had been, he might have hidden the papers in Denny's cabin.
That was a new thought. Perhaps the scheming men knew this, and that is why they wanted to attack the old fisherman.
”We simply must go to his cabin,” decided Cora, ”and find out what has happened. I can't wait any longer.”
Wraps were quickly donned, and down to the dock went the girls. The _Chelton_ was in running order, and soon they were out on the moonlit waters of the bay.
”There's a light in his cabin,” said Cora, as they came out from behind a point, and had a view of the little cove where nestled Denny's cottage.
”I hope the boys are there,” remarked Bess, ”and that they have the villains all tied up and ready for delivery.”
”Ugh!” exclaimed Belle. ”If they have I wish they'd send them by parcel post instead of asking us to take charge of them.”
”They'll be harmless,” guaranteed Cora. ”Besides, the _Dixie_ can't hold more than the boys; our boat is larger.”
”We could let the boys run this one, after the men are tied in her,”
suggested Lottie, ”and we could come home in the _Dixie_.”
”Never!” exclaimed Cora. ”You can't rely on her. I'll stick to the _Chelton_.”
But if the girls had only known that, at that moment, far out on Crystal Bay, was the ill-fated _Dixie_, drifting to sea, while the boys tooted hopelessly for aid on the compressed air whistles!
The _Chelton_ made a quick and uneventful trip to the fisherman's cabin. From it a light peacefully glowed.
”There's no one here,” announced Bess. ”Not even the boys.”
”Be careful,” warned Cora. ”It may be a trap. Let us go up softly.”
”But what about those men?” asked Belle. ”Maybe they have taken Denny away with them, and the boys, too.”
”Don't be silly,” advised Cora. ”Let's go up and look in.”
As they peered in the cabin window they saw Denny seated in an easy chair. He was alone, and across his knees was the red oar of which he seemed so fond.
CHAPTER XXIII
UNEXPECTED HELP
”Well, we certainly are up against it--good and proper!” exclaimed Jack. ”And I'm glad the girls aren't along!”
”Why?” asked Walter, leaning back against the gunwale to rest after laboring over the refractory engine of the _Dixie_.
<script>