Fenn Masterson's Discovery Part 5

She was whispering tensely, and she came close to Fenn. In the next room Mr. Hayward could be heard telling Mr. Masterson something about his large business interests.

"Don't let my father hear you," pleaded Ruth.

"But perhaps I can help you," insisted Fenn.

"No--no one can--at least not now," she said. "Don't ask me. I must go now. Good-night," and she hurried from the room, leaving a much-puzzled lad behind. He forgot all about the book he wanted, so wrought up was he over what Ruth had said. He decided it would not be proper to question her any further, though he wanted very much to aid her if he could.

The next morning Mr. Hayward announced that he felt well enough to proceed. The auto had been repaired, and the gentleman and his daughter, bidding their hosts farewell, started off. They had decided to return home, as Ruth was so upset over the accident that a camping trip was out of the question.

"Now don't forget, I expect you boys out to visit me," called Mr.

Hayward, as the four chums waved their hands to father and daughter when the auto puffed off. "Come early and stay late!"

"Poor girl," murmured Mrs. Masterson, as she went back into the house.

"She seems worried over something, but I don't see what it can be, for her father is very wealthy, according to his talk, and she has everything she wants. Maybe she misses her mother. She told me she had been dead only a few years."

But Fenn knew it was something about the mysterious cave that was worrying Ruth, and he wished, more than ever, that he could do something to aid her.

It was a week after this when, school having closed for the summer term, the four chums were gathered at Fenn's house. Frank, Ned and Bart had arrived at the same time, to find Stumpy absorbed in the pages of a big geography.

"Going to take a post-graduate course?" asked Bart.

"No, he's looking for Bayville, to see if he can't catch a glimpse of Ruth," spoke Ned.

"I was planning a vacation trip," replied Fenn, with dignity.

"A vacation trip? Where?"

"On the Great Lakes," answered Fenn. "I think it would be just the thing. I've been looking it up. We could go down the Still River to Lake Erie, and then to Lake Huron. From there we could visit the Straits of Mackinaw, and then, after a trip on Lake Michigan, go through the Sault St. Mary to Lake Superior. Then--"

"Yes, and then we could sail to Bayville and you could visit Ruth while we sat on the bank and caught fis.h.!.+" interrupted Frank. "Oh, Stumpy, it's easy to guess what you are thinking about!"

CHAPTER V

CAPTAIN WIGGS'S PROPOSAL

Fenn had to stand considerable "jollying" on the part of his chums, but, though he blushed and was a little annoyed, he took it in good part.

"You can talk about Ruth all you like," he said, "but, just the same, if you have any plans to beat a cruise on the Great Lakes, why--trot 'em out, that's all. We've got to go somewhere this vacation, and I don't see any better place, though I've looked through the whole geography."

"And the only place you could get to was Bayville," interrupted Ned.

"It's all right, Stumpy. I agree with you, that it would be a fine trip."

"How could we make it?" asked Frank.

"Walk, of course," replied Bart, with a grin. "It's water all the way."

"Funny!" answered Frank, poking his sarcastic chum in the ribs. "I mean where could we get a boat?"

"Hire one, I s'pose," put in Fenn, who had been busy marking an imaginary cruise in lead pencil on the map of the Great Lakes.

"That would be pretty expensive," said Bart. "We're not millionaires, though we each have a little money salted away in the bank."

The boys discussed the proposed cruise for some time longer, but there seemed no way of going on it. To hire a steamer or motorboat for such a long trip was practically out of the question for them, and, with much regret they all admitted it could not be considered.

"Come over to-morrow night," invited Fenn, when his chums left that evening. "Maybe we can think of something by then."

The next afternoon Fenn, who had gone to the store for his mother, stopped, on his way back, at the public dock of the Still River, where several vessels were loading with freight for Lake Erie ports. There was much hurrying about and seeming confusion; wagons and trucks backing up and going ahead, and scores, of men wheeling boxes and barrels on board lighters and steamers.

"Port! Port your helm!" suddenly called a voice, almost in Fenn's ear, and he jumped to one side, to allow a short, stout man, with his arms full of bundles, to pa.s.s him. "That's it!" the man went on. "Nearly run you down, didn't I? Thought you were a water-logged craft in my course.

Why, h.e.l.lo! If it isn't Fenn Masterson!"

"Captain Wiggs!" exclaimed Fenn, recognizing the commander of the _Modoc_.

"Looking for a berth?" went on the captain, as he placed his bundles down on the head of a barrel. "I can sign you as cleaner of the after boiler tubes, if you like," and he looked so grave that Fenn did not know whether he was joking or not. It was a habit the captain had, of making the most absurd remarks in a serious way, so that even his friends, at times, did not quite know how to take him. "Yes," he went on, "I need a small boy to crawl through the after boiler tubes twice a day to keep 'em clean. Would you like the job?"

"I--I don't believe so," replied Fenn, with a smile, for now he knew Captain Wiggs was joking.

"All right then," said the commander, with an a.s.sumed sigh. "I'll have to do it myself, and I'm getting pretty old and fat for such work. The tubes are smaller than they used to be. But I dare say I can manage it.

Where you going?" he asked Fenn suddenly, with a change of manner.

"No place in particular. Home, pretty soon. Why?"

"I was going to ask you to come aboard and have a gla.s.s of lemonade,"

invited the captain. "It's a hot day and lemonade is the best drink I know of."

"Oh, I'll come," decided Fenn, for Captain Wiggs's lemonade had quite a reputation. Besides there were always queer little chocolate cakes in the captain's cabin lockers, for he was very fond of sweet things, as Fenn knew from experience.

"Haven't saved any more sinking automobiles, lately, have you?" asked the commander, when Fenn was seated in the cabin, sipping a gla.s.s of the delicious beverage.

"No. Mr. Hayward has gone back to Bayville."

"Bayville? Is that where he lives?" asked Captain Wiggs.

"That's it," replied Fenn. "Why?"

"That's odd," mused the captain. "I'm going right near there, this cruise. You see I've got a mixed cargo this trip," he explained. "I've got to deliver some things at several lake ports, but the bulk of the stuff goes to Duluth. Now if you would only s.h.i.+p with me, as cleaner of the after boiler tubes, why you could go along."

"Could I?" asked Fenn eagerly.

"Sure."

"And--and could you take any other boiler tube cleaners, or--or any other help?"

"Well, I need a couple of lads to dust the coal," said the captain, so seriously that Fenn thought he meant it. "You see if coal is dusty it doesn't burn well," he added. "We have to dust off every lump before we can put it in the boiler. Now a couple of handy lads, who were quick and smart could--"