The Gun Club Boys of Lakeport

“Hang me if I know.”

The three tramps stared blankly at one another. They were caught like rats in a trap. They tiptoed their way to the next room, and looked forth from the windows.

“I see four men and boys,” said one.

“An’ three on this side,” came from another. “There must be ten o’ ’em after all. Boys, our goose is cooked.”

“Are you coming out, or have we got to fire on you?” continued Constable Peabody.

“I’ll give ’em a dose of buckshot,” put in Joel Runnell, although he had no idea of firing for the present.

“That’s it,” sang out Joe, who was likewise fooling.

“No! no! don’t shoot!” howled Stump, who was the most cowardly of the trio. “Don’t shoot!”

“Will you come out?”

“Yes.”

“Then come, and put your hands over your head.”

Looking decidedly sheepish the tramp marched out of the house, holding both hands over his head. In a moment Constable Peabody was behind him and had the rascal handcuffed.

“Now you other fellows come out, too,” said the officer. “One at a time, and with your hands up. If you try any funny work I’ll order my men to fire.”

There was a pause for a moment and then Noxy slouched out. He was quickly followed by Muley, who looked as if he wanted very much to run away. But the tramps were given no chance to escape, and soon all were tightly handcuffed.

“Well, how do you like the situation?” asked Joe, as he faced Muley. “Can’t you tell me what time it is?”

The tramp looked at the young hunter and then fell back a step.

“You!” he gasped.

“I say, can’t you tell me what time it is? If you’ll remember, you have my watch and chain.”

“Say dis beats de nation,” murmured Muley. “Did youse fellers follow us up?”

“We did.”

“What have you done with my brother’s watch?” asked Harry.

“I ain’t got de watch,” growled the tramp. But later on, when he was searched, the watch and chain were found in his pocket, he having no chance to sell or pawn the articles.

While this talk was going on Constable Peabody was questioning Stump and Noxy about what had been done to Ike Slosson. At first neither of the tramps wanted to talk, but at last Stump confessed that they had gotten the old man away from home by delivering to him a bogus telegram, stating that a rich relative had died in Springfield and that there was much money awaiting him. The hermit had been just simple-minded enough to go away, and as soon as he was gone they had taken possession of his house, where they had expected to remain until it was time for Slosson to get back.

“Well, you’ll not stay here any longer,” said Constable Peabody, grimly. “You’ll spend a good part of the future in the lockup, if I know anything about it.”

“I reckon I missed it when I took dat young man’s watch an’ chain,” said Muley, with a hitch of his shoulders. “But I never t’ought he’d follow us like dis, never.”

Another conference was held, and as a result it was decided that the constable, assisted by big Jim Bowman and Farmer Libby, should march the prisoners to a temporary lockup and later transfer them to the Lakeport jail, there to await the action of the court. It may be added here that this was done, and the three tramps received sentences which kept them from doing further harm for some time to come.

“Well, we won out that time,” said Joe, as the young hunters and Joel Runnell started, the next day, for the camp on Pine Island. “I am glad we went after those tramps before they had a chance to leave Ike Slosson’s house.”

“We’ll have to give Teddy credit,” said Harry. “He’s the one who made this capture possible.” And the Irish lad was warmly praised, much to his satisfaction.

CHAPTER XXIX

A GREAT MOOSE CHASE

All were anxious to learn if the shelter on the island had been disturbed during their absence. When they arrived at the spot they found everything as they had left it, much to their satisfaction.

“I’m going to take it easy for a day,” said Joe. “I think we all deserve a rest.”

“Second the commotion,” said Fred, and so they rested.

“I’ve got to go home,” said Teddy. “I’m sorry to leave you all, but it can’t be helped.” And he left them that noon, all hands giving him a rousing cheer as he departed. He carried with him four rabbits taken from the traps and also a very fat turkey which Joel Runnell managed to lay low for him.

The boys all felt that their hunting tour must soon come to an end, and having rested, they resolved to make the most of the time that still remained to them.

“We may never get another chance to go out like this,” said Harry. “One thing I’d like to bring down before we leave. That is a moose.”

“I guess a moose would suit all of us,” cried Link. “But I don’t think we are going to get any. Moose are mighty scarce around here.”

“Link is right,” put in Joel Runnell. “But for all that we may spot one before we go.”

“Oh, have you seen any signs of a moose?” ejaculated Harry.

“I’ve seen some signs that may have been made by a moose, although a big deer would leave the same marks.”

The shelter was now a very cozy place, for all of the boys spent their leisure time in fixing it up. They had long ago named it Two-Tree Lodge, and Fred had cut out a sign with his jackknife and this was hung over the doorway.

“If folks only knew what a fine camping-out spot this island is, I dare say there would be many more people here,” declared Bart.

It must not be imagined that Joe and Harry had forgotten about Hiram Skeetles’ missing pocketbook, that which contained the papers of so much value.

“We must hunt for those papers, Joe,” said Harry, and they went out not once but several times. But, although they hunted high and low, among the bushes, rocks, and in the snow, the pocketbook and the valuable papers failed to come to light. The most they found was the real estate dealer’s business card, which Joe picked up late one afternoon.

“Hullo! I’ve found old Skeetles’ card,” he sang out, and Harry rushed to his side to look it over.

“Anything else, Joe?”

“No. But this card shows that we are on the right track.”

“That is true.”

After the card was found they hunted around until long after dark, but nothing else was discovered, much to their disappointment.

“Perhaps the pocketbook was washed into the lake after all,” said Fred, who was very much interested, and who had hunted some on his own account. “If you’ll remember, we had some pretty hard rains before winter set in.”