Chapter 18 The Message in the Hollow Oak by Carolyn Keene
The Search
Carson Drew’s plan was to institute legal proceedings against the Yellow Dawn Mining Company. During the plane ride to Wellington Lake that night he confided to Nancy that he suspected Tom Stripe and Buck Sawtice of being indirectly involved in the Marcus Taylor lumber case. He intended investigating the matter thoroughly before returning to River Heights.
“I never dreamed I’d get into so much trouble because I won the radio contest,” Nancy remarked. “I thought the Velvet Company was an honest concern.”
“I think it is. Naturally, the executives know nothing about you, so when they received the forged paper, which was doubtless the work of the Yellow Dawn officials, they more than likely never once doubted its authenticity.”
“That mistake may cost me my land. I shouldn’t feel so bad about it if it were an ordinary piece of property, but now that it seems as if gold may be found there I can’t bear the thought of losing it.”
“We’ll fight for your rights to the bitter end,” the attorney assured her. “I feel partly responsible for all the trouble. Had I recorded your deed immediately after you received it, your position would have been far more secure.”
“It certainly wasn’t your fault, Father. We knew nothing about the ground. Had it turned out to be worthless I should doubtless have refused to accept it from the Velvet Company.”
“We are up against a clever, unscrupulous group of men, and it will require all our ingenuity to combat them,” concluded Carson Drew soberly.
Some minutes later the plane made a skillful landing at Wellington Lake, not far from Mrs. Donnelly’s boarding house. Although the hour was late, a light still gleamed in the windows.
“She’ll be surprised to see us return so soon,” Nancy chuckled.
The woman was locking up for the night when the little party arrived. Learning that Nancy’s party had left Windham without having had their evening meal, she insisted upon preparing a light repast for them before they should retire. Over their cups of cocoa, Mrs. Donnelly listened to Nancy’s account of the plot to deprive her of the property.
“The Yellow Dawn Mining Company!” the Woman exclaimed, upon hearing the name.
“Yes. Have you ever heard of it?” Nancy queried eagerly.
“Under most unpleasant circumstances. I once bought some mining stock from that concern. I should have known better, for I’m not easily taken in on business deals.”
“Was the stock sold to you by a man named Buck Sawtice?” Mr. Drew queried.
“No! I’d never buy anything from that fellow!”
“What can you tell me about him?” the attorney asked quickly.
“I know him only by reputation, Mr. Drew. However, he is a partner in a lumber company which I suspect of being dishonest.”
“I was hoping that I might uncover just such information,” the lawyer returned, highly pleased. “I must run down the clue you have furnished me.”
“I’m sorry I can’t tell you any of the details,” Mrs. Donnelly said regretfully, “though I can refer you to a man who might give you invaluable aid.”
She wrote out the name of a local attorney and gave the paper to Carson Drew, who promised himself to call upon his contemporary at his earliest convenience.
It was after midnight when the consultation ended. The lights were then turned out, and everyone went to bed. At seven o’clock the following morning Nancy came downstairs to find that her father had arisen before she had.
“Mr. Drew went down to the village,” Mrs. Donnelly told her, “but said he expected to be back here in time for breakfast.”
However, when an hour and a half had elapsed and still the attorney had not returned, Nancy grew troubled.
“If he doesn’t get here soon it will ruin all our plans for the day,” she declared.
At that moment Carson Drew was sighted coming up the path, walking briskly. His face wore an animated expression.
“Good news, Father?” Nancy asked.
“Yes. I have definite evidence that Sawtice is tied up in a scheme to rob Marcus Taylor of his lumber interests here in the North,” he told her, sitting down to a hearty breakfast which Mrs. Donnelly had kept warm for him. “I think I’ve gathered enough material this morning to win the case.”
“I’m glad of that,” Nancy said. “If we could only recover my mining property everything ought to turn out splendidly.”
“I’ll visit your land today, if I can arrange it, and have a talk with Sawtice if he is working there,” Carson Drew announced.
Norman Ranny, who was sitting nearby, overheard the remark.
“The matter can be easily arranged, Mr. Drew. I know this country as well as any guide you might engage. I have a boat here at Wellington Lake, and will be only too glad to take you with me.”
“It doesn’t seem fair to put you to so much trouble. If you will accept payment——”
“I couldn’t, Mr. Drew. Your daughter has done me a service I shall never be able to repay her. Besides, I am eager to return to Mr. Chap’s cabin on my own account.”
“Then we’ll accept your offer gratefully, Mr. Ranny. How soon can we start?”
“In fifteen minutes, if you like.”
“I’ll be ready,” Mr. Drew promised.
“And so will we,” Nancy added, speaking for her chums.
Carson Drew looked slightly troubled.
“Nancy, I don’t like to disappoint you, but——”
“Father!”
“One can’t be sure how this little adventure will end, my dear. Buck Sawtice is a tough customer, and may make plenty of trouble.”
“All the more reason why we should be along!”
Mr. Drew smiled.
“I can’t imagine what the Marvins and Faynes would do to me if any harm should befall their daughters.”
“We’ve already met Buck Sawtice, and have escaped unscathed,” George reminded him with a grin. “I vote that you take us all along.”
With three against him the attorney decided to give in.
“All right. But mind, if there’s any trouble you three young ladies can expect to be sent straight back to Mrs. Donnelly’s.”
Nancy and her chums hurried to their rooms to don more suitable clothing than those they had on. By the time Norman Ranny had the boat and camping equipment ready the group was waiting for him at the pier.
The prospector chose a route similar to the one Pete Atkins had previously taken. The party rowed across Wellington Lake, made the portage, and then struck out again along the shore of Stewart Lake. Mr. Drew and Norman Ranny took turns at rowing. Since time was precious, a lunch Mrs. Donnelly had packed was eaten en route.
“We’ve made good time,” the prospector declared after a time, squinting up at the sun. “That’s the Chap cabin over yonder.”
Far across the lake the girls caught a glimpse of the log structure. Nancy was quick to observe that no smoke was curling from the chimney.
“I hope we find Mr. Chap this time,” she said, looking troubled. “You don’t suppose he has met with an accident, do you?”
“He’s probably somewhere in the vicinity,” Mr. Drew returned.
“It isn’t like Mr. Chap to be away for days at a time,” Norman Ranny commented. “I’m beginning to feel worried about him.”
With the goal so near, the prospector bent to his oars with a will. Ten minutes later the boat grated upon the sandy beach.
While the guide and Mr. Drew dragged the craft from the water, Nancy, George and Bess ran on ahead to find out if Mr. Chap were at home. As the former emerged into the clearing, she halted abruptly. The cabin had been boarded up!
“Well, of all things!” she exclaimed in astonishment. “What in the world does this mean?”
Bess and George were equally bewildered. They ran back to the beach to tell the men the disappointing news, and the two at once came to view the building for themselves.
“I can’t understand it,” the prospector said, gloomily examining the covered windows and door. “It looks as if Grandfather Chap may have returned here yesterday and closed up the place himself. As far as I know, he expected to remain here for the summer.”
“His crops are planted,” Nancy observed. “And the cupboards inside the house are filled with perishable groceries.”
“I don’t like the appearance of things,” Ranny confessed.
“Do you think he has met with foul play?” Nancy asked quickly.
“I don’t know what to think. Tom Stripe and Raymond Niles acted suspicious, to say the least. They tied me up and left me alone to die. If Grandfather Chap happened to have been in their way, they doubtless would have treated him the same way.”
“Would it be possible to break into the house and make certain that he isn’t a prisoner inside?” Nancy asked.
“I think I can pry off one of the boards over the rear window,” Ranny decided, making an inspection.
After considerable trouble the prospector succeeded in removing the barrier. While Nancy and her companions waited outside, he climbed through the window and disappeared within. Shortly thereafter he returned.
“Everything is just exactly as we left it,” he reported. “Mr. Chap isn’t here.”
He carefully boarded up the window again.
“I suppose there’s nothing to do but to continue on our journey,” Nancy said in disappointment. “It begins to look as if the elderly man really has left the place for good.”
Gloomily the party returned to the beach. While Nancy and her chums took care of the cars and light equipment, Carson Drew and Norman Ranny carried the boat a short distance to the rushing stream, which offered rapid transportation deeper into the woods. After an uneventful and somewhat silent journey the craft was finally drawn up near the Dawson cabin.
“How is Pete?” Nancy questioned anxiously, after she had greeted its mistress.
“Greatly improved,” the woman assured her. “This morning he ate a hearty meal and walked about for a few minutes. Of course, he’s still very weak.”
“That’s only natural after his receiving such a hard blow,” Nancy smiled. “Where is he now? I should like to have him meet my father.”
“He and Jake went out to the barn a few minutes ago. I’ll call them.”
There was no need for her to do so, however. As she went over to the door Mrs. Dawson saw her older son hurrying toward the house.
“I tried to stop him but I couldn’t!” he exclaimed, when he was within earshot. “There’s no telling what he may do!”
“Jake, what are you talking about?” his mother demanded.
“Pete Atkins!” the boy explained. “He said he’s going to run down Tom Stripe and square things up!”