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_ “WHAPPTYT DAYS‘
- ‘5
venge,” cried Paul. ‘They threatened it if
you remember.”
A groan escaped John Latelle.
“We are ruined, Paul,” he said. ‘* We
must begin life all over again in a foreign
and,
“Then let us go at once,” said Paul.
“ Now is our time.”
Downstairs they slipped. The servants
Of course they
oO :
_ fell into the hands of the detectives,
‘They slipped
. across the lawn and reached the Street. It
seemed as if escape was certain.
But fast at that moment a whistle
. Dark forms surrounded them,
Paul gave up readily, But John Latelle
made an attempt to flee. He ran a few
ell.
When the detectives bent down over him
alantern was flashed in his face, which
was seen to be white and rigid. One o:
the detectives felt of his heart. .
“Tow is it, Benton? A shock?”
“ Heart failure !” was the laconic reply.
*“ He is dead.
It was Dane and Page in reality who had
‘fired the mills, but they were the very next
moment nal
detectives.
‘The Latelle Mills burned to the ground.
It was the biggest fire Newtown had ever
known, ‘he incidents of that night were
ed and made prisoners by
wift upon the report of the fire came
the news of John Latelle’s death, He had
cheated the law. ~
A tremendous sensation was created in
Newtown. It was weeks before the sub-
ject was exhausted by the gossips of the
town.
*Of course Dane and Page gave up and
confessed. . . :
They implicated the Latelles. A long
trial was the result. Both expiated their
crimes on the scaffold.
But there was hardly enough evidence to
hang Paul-Latelle. He was let off with a
sentence of twenty years in prison,
And there he is to-day.
Dexter Wade took flight at the turn of
affairs and left Newtown forever, Nobody
regretted this.
Of the other characters of our story but
* little need be sai
The
Newtown & Atlantic Steamboat
Company made of Hustling Harry a very
rich man, He was able to establish the
beautiful home which was ‘his life am-
bition, and Alice Richardson presides over
it as his happy wife. .
_ Colonel Foster yet lives, though he has
been many years retired from business.
the hustling young man from New rk,
who struck out into the country, and by
dint of perseverance, pluck and integrity,
succeeded grandly in making things pay.
[THE END,]
ed
ANOTHER NEW STORY IN No. 241,
TITLE WILL BE CIVEN NEXT WEEK. .
0
{This story commenced in No, 283,]
CAPTAIN THUNDER
The Boy ‘Treasure Hunters
"of Robbers’ Reef.
BY J. C. BRADLEY,
Author of “Sinbad the Second,” “ The
Hero of the Maine,” “The Lost
School Ship,” “Afloat With
Captain Kidd,” ete., ete.
CHAPTER XIX. ¢
FRANK DOES THE DISAPPEARANCE AC
AND THEN MAKES LOVE. :
“Crap the handcuffs on that boy!
We'll make him tell what he knows!
So shouted Captain Conroy, pointing at
the same time to Frank Fullerton, after
they had searched Robbers’ Roost in vain
for Captain Thunder. .
“Don't take him! Don’t take him, cap-
tain!” pleaded Belle, “Indeed, Frank | d
knows nothing about my father’s busi-
”
ness, -
“Oh, he don't, hey?” retorted the rev-
enue officer, ungallantly. ‘! W ell 8
about that, miss! Ile either tells what he
he goes aboard the cutter.” .
“Hold on, cap,” said Frank, coolly.
* You have no right to arrest me.
haven't done anything but let oat boats
and serve dinners to summer boarders, -I
don’t think you will find it very eas work
to make a crime out of either one of those
things.” a .
“You are a very smart young man, and
you've got the gift of gab to the queen's
taste,” retorted the captain of the cutter,
©
°
~
i
.“*] didn’t want to take chances, I've
“but that won't save you. What I say I
mean, Frank Fullerton; either you tell ine
“Tt's rather a pity you didn’t come to
that idea sooner,” said Frank. *‘ We may
where Trelawney is, or I’ll handcuff you to |hide here for awhile, but in the end the
c
flashing eyes. -
“You'll find out what I daredo! You'll
this girl and take you both on board the | are bound to find the cave. “If it is a pos-
" . t
sible thing to get you on_ board that
utter,’
“You wouldn’t dare!” cried Belle, with pehooner you mentioned, I think it should
one at once,
“ And will you stand by me, Frank? An-
both find yourselves in jail at Rockland, | swer me, boy! If [can once tet off to Can-
that’s what you'll fin
“ Tlow can I tell ou what I don’t know, | shall be safe,
rank, ‘*
cap?” demanded You weren't |
uick enough, and Mr, Trelawney gave me | Frank, “but I
the slip. Lay a hand on me or this lady. or} you tha t.”
y ‘
Dock, and I'l] sue you for false arrest.
ada, there [ have plenty of friends and
“Til do what I can for you, sir,” replied
on't like smugglers, I tell
on't. put on airs, boy. Your father
got friends! I can break you, perhaps. | was a smuggler
Anyhow, I’ll make a big try for it, and
mebbe I shall succeed.”
“Bluff! Bluff!” snarled the captain.
“Take them, boys !”
“My father !”
“Yes, It was he who cut the hole down
into this cave. Many a cargo he and I
have landed here, Now, now, don't look
Two men who were standing near made | socut up about it. You are not responsible
arush upon the piazza with the intention
of capturing Frank, It is doubtful if Cap-
tain Conroy would have done anything
about Belle, but of this Frank was not so
sure, He anticipated this and was all
ready forit. Ile and Belle stood together
near the big front door of the Folly, which
was wide open, .
“Step inside, Belle,” whispered the boy,
“Trust me J”
Belle obeyed.. .
“Come back outtof that !” roared Conroy,
who seemed to like giving orders better
than doing anything himself.
iff! Bang! Frank struck out from
fhe shoulder in a way which meant. busi-
ness, and he struck with both hands,
ne of the revenue officers got
the chin and the other against the left ear,
but both went over backward, measuring
their length on the piazza.
ike a flash Frank was through the door
and had shot the bolt. ~
“Quick, Belle!” heexclaimed. ‘*Wecan
be with your father in an instant if we are
spry.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
‘There was’ no nonsense about the blows
“Of course we are too late!” roared Cap-
tain Conroy, “Once more that boy has
fooled us! ‘Where's the other one? Arrest
him while there’s time.” ~
aptain Conroy was too late all
around, it seemed. Frank and Belle had
vanished, as he had supposed, and when
hey came to look for Dock, he was no-
where to be found, either,
“T see how the cat was a-jumpin’, so I
jest took to the woods,” Dock remarked
afterward, and as the woods lay several
hundred yards back from the Folly, Dock
must have taken to his heels
for your father’s doings, Ha! what was
that? Some one trying the trapdoor, as
sure as I'masinner, Look to Belle, Frank,
I'll attend to his case,”
Thus saying, Captain Thunder drew his | be
revolver and crept back toward the ladder,
“Frank!” whispered Belle, taking ad-
vantage of this opportunity, ‘Oh, Frank !
“What is it, Belle?” replied Frank,
oarsely. .
‘The boy had been brought upto respect,
his father. He could not bear to have his
memory blackened; yet in_the bottom of
his heart he felf that Mr. Trelawney was
probably telling the truth.
“Frank,” whispered Belle, “if your
father was just as bad as my father, then
—then—"
Then Frank flung his arm about the
beautiful girl, and Belle’s head dropped
upon his shoulder. .
“Belle! Oh, Belle !" whispered the boy.
“What is it, Frank?”
“I'm glad my father was a smuggler.
shouldn't like to feel myself any better
ban you.”
Harry Hazleton! Harry Hazleton! If
you know what is good for you that little
fishing trip had better be prolonged indefi-
nitely, for it is quite certain that pretty
Belle Trelawney will not be glad to see you
on your return. .
CHAPTER XX.
THE CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN THUNDER.
Wuite Frank and Belle were making
love, Mr. Trelawney was making sure that
the trapdoor was securely fastened on the
under side, for some one had certainly tried
it, and after he came up the ladder it was
tried again.
But the two big bolts held it securely,
and after a few moments the revenue men
who were making a thorough examina-
r. Tre-
lawney went down to the mouth of the
‘Atall events he was not around now, | cave where the water came rolling up the
and after a vain search the revenue ofticer sandy beach.
once more too!
back to the cutter, leaving three men be- | now, fat!
hind him to do detective duty, concealed
n the house.
“13 it possible for us to get out of here
Bert’ asked Belle. ‘Could we do
what we did last night?”
“T might if I was not so lame,” replied
“Just wait till tomorrow when we get |Captain Thunder, “but it would be hard
the diver up from Portland,” he remarked. | for you. Besides, where should, we land?
© Then we'll know what all this means,”
¥
Robbers’ Reef is covered. It would bea
Meanwhile Frank and Belle had made | dangerous experiment unless there was a
the most of their opportunity, Slipping | boat ready to meet us when we rose to the
into the big dining room, Fran
kk threw | surface, and even then Ishould not like to
open a closet door and told Belle to enter. see you try it, Belle.
“Tm
It was only a narrow antry, intended ap-
parently for dishes, But F
came to his senses in the cave managed to
sure I've no desire to try it,” re-
rank, after he plied Belle. ‘We will have to remain
q
ere until it is safe for us to go out through
Jearn its secret, and he was about to make | the Folly ; and now, father, I want you to
the most of it now.
“Stand back a little, Belle!” he whis-
ered. ‘Lhe trapdoor isrighthere. Now,
Pm going to raise it. Keep close to me,
There's a ladder. i
We shall soon be in the
ight.
Down the ladder they Surried, through essary to doit again:
a sort of well cut in the rocky foundation
upon which the Folly rested. This well
promise me one thing,"
“What is it, Belle?”
“That you will abandon this life forever,
anad——
jon’t miss your footing. I “I’ve already made you that promise,
3elle. I don't think it is going to be nec-
But this go You must promise me
that it shall be restored to its rightful
communicated with the smuggler’s cave, | owners, Have I your word for that
a i
which extended back under the hotel an
yond,
“Tecan make a fortune exhibiting this}had never struck it.
“Yes, yes, if yor insist upon it, Belle,
Gonfound the gold! Lwish Jim Southwell
i Frank, it
rr
place if ever get out of this snap,” thought | came off the steamer ‘Aretic from Portland
‘rank.
Footsteps were now heard below—a
light flashed. There stood Mr. Trelawney,
carrying a lantern. .
to Liverpoo), which was wrecked on Sable
Island some weeks ago. The gold is a
shipment made by Allen & Co., of Pertland,
to a firm of bankers in Liverpool. Iknew
* Wello, Frank! Hellof? he shouted. | of its being aboard the wreck, and when I
ood Heavens! And Belle
also! Are you followed? Are they onto
me? Iam too lame to take to the water, |and managed to
now that it is high tide. What amIto
0 .
“Keep cool father,” said Belle. “I don’t|so he determined to try for Fullerton’s
.
told Jim Southwell about it he took the
Seven Hills, went down to Sable Island,
et it off. The original
intention was to take it right into Cherry-
field, but the revenue cutter got after him,
hink we are being followed. The revenue | cave as we used to call this place. You
officers were going to arrest us, and Frank | know what" followed, but we can't either
thought it was better to come down Jof us tell what the end of it may be, and
3
here.”
while there is time and Iam on the stool
ere,
“ On Belle’s account !” explained Frank, | of repentance, Imay as well make another
locked the closet door on the inside. I
think we are perfectly safe.”
“Thank Heaven fo
Belle,” groaned Mr, Trelawney, “i can
other cargo. I'm done with the smugglers
life forever. Captain Thunder will trouble
the coast of Maine no more.”
matter straight.’
¥rank looked at Mr, Trelawney inquir-
ingly, as the latter pulled out a big pocket-
r that, Ob, Belle, | book, and, taking a sealed letter from it,
handed it to the pore
“What is this?” he asked.
“Take it, Frank, and put it in your
ocket,” was the answer, “I don’t. want
to talk about it now, but it is like this:
sold your father the lumber to build the
Folly, and there was a difference between
us Which he finally settled in cash.”
Yes,and it ruined him,” said Frank,
bitterly.
“IT Know, Fullerton was no hand at
figures, I made a mistake, but the papers
in that envelope will make it all right.”
“Tt can't bring-my father back to life
again,” thought Frank, but hesaid nothing,
‘or at the same moment the mouth of the
cave was darkened, and a figure could be
indistinetly seen working its way down
through the water,
“It's Dock !” exclaimed Frank, “ He's
looking for the cave,” ~
“It may be one of the revenue officers,”
said Mr. Trelawney, “* We had better hide
that gold.” .
“Leave it where it is, father!" said
Belle, commandingly. ‘* You must have
nothing to do with it.”
** Loo! e’s missed the opening,”
breathed Frauk, as the shadow upon the
water seemed to work over toward the
left, “It’snot Dock. 1 wonder who it can
Captain Thunder took a second revolver
gut of his hip pocket and banded it to
Prank,
° Belle’s sake,” he said. ‘You may
need i
“Don't feel afraid that I would not run
any risk for Belle’s sake,” replied Frank,
“but what do you mean?”
“It is my opinion that we have been
looking at ‘a professional diver, He has
missed the cave this time, but he will be
sure to try it again,
“Tt isn’t Dock,” said Frank, “and I
don't think he is a professional, It’s no
great trick to reach the bottom here, even
at high tide, and he didn’t séem able to do
that.”
>
“That's right. There’s something in
I| what por say, and—but here he comes
again
Once more the dark shadow appeared in
the water, and a man could be seen grop-
ing for the cave,
“Tom Sizer!” cried Frank, suddenly.
“Tom! Oh, Tom! This way, Tom!” .
The figure turned and shot into the care, .
where for the moment it was lost sight of,
cause once under the rocks it was all
shadows, and by no means easy to separ-
ate one from another, but suddenly there
was a splash, and ‘Tom Sizer, naked to the
waist, appeared on the beach.
“ TIello, Frank! B’gosh you're here and
so am I!" he cried, ‘Great start’ this,
hain't it? Cap, the schooner will be all
ready for you to-night off Swan Neck. Let
me advise you to lay low till I give the
signal ; as for the rest you can come up in
the Folly if you want to, for the revenue
sharks have all gone and I don't believe
they mean to return.” .
“That's good news |" exclaimed Oaptain
Thunder, ‘* Belle, we will get upstairs at
once.”
“We'd better stay here, father, I don't
like to ryn the risk.”
“There is no yr said Tom, “I done
what I promised to do, cap, and I done it
right. Met Dock Dinzey on tbe bluff,
Frank, and he told me what had happened
so I says to myself ‘I think I can find that
there cave,’ says I, and b'gosh I've done it.
Left Harry Hazleton and Dock in the boat.
I take it for granted that there dude
“
knows which way the wind is a-blowin’, .
ap.’
“T-suppose he does, and I wish he
didn't,” replied Mr, Trelawney. ‘*Frank,
shall we go up *
“Yd stay here,” said Frank, emphati-
cally. .
“There hain’t the least mite of danger,”
ersisted Tom.
“TIL risk it,” said the smuggler, “TI
don’t like keeping Belle down here in this
damp cave, Come on, ¥ ”
[hey returned to the Jadder, and Mr,
Trelawney opened the trapdoor and stood
istening.
“It's all quiet enough,” he said, “* Here
goes.” :
He flung open the closet door and atep-
3
®
a
“Hal We've got you at last, you slip-
ry eel!" shouted a voice, and then there
was the sound of a struggle and a fall.
“Look out! I'm captured!" Captain
Thunder cried. .
CHAPTER XXI.
TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
Bane ! went the trapdoor almost ontop |
of Frank's head.
“Oh, father !" gasped Belle, on the lad-
er. ,
At the same instant the lantern which
Tom Sizer
light them up the’ ladder was suddenly
extinguished, and they were left in dark-
ness—somebody was scrambling down the
ladder—somebody was hurrying away
through the cave.
“Courage, Belle!’. breathed Frank,
“Tom has betrayed us! Oh, the scamp!
He has sold us out to the enemy sure, but
it may not be too Jate to restue your father
yet. “Are you afraid to stay here alone?”
r
“No,” said Belle, “but what would you
do, Frank?” .
a
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