The Air Mystery of Isle La Motte

day can start. The step-brothers found Aunt Belle busy canning

s finished,"

r the sun was hardly well out of the Lake and wa

, and before sun-up is the best time of day to get work done, to my wa

t after breakfast," Jim proposed, and he loo

e in giving a body a minute to worry ove

the present," Bob teas

." They both had a hunch that she was eager for the adventure, but she was mighty nervous about it, just t

at way about it wh

Now, you sit right down and help yourselves. Norman told me to be sure to wrap up warm." She hurried away and the boys grinned, then obeyed orders. By the tim

t isn't any worse than sitting in a rock

ing you drop out of the sky on a streak of li

f we see the tiniest cloud, we'll

justed so she could pull them down. The speaking tube and field glasses were close at hand. This trip Jim was in the back seat while his step-brother was beside the passenger. Not a word did the lady utter during the pre

ed as he opened her

ey went five hundred feet and by that time they were beyond the south end of Fisher's Island and sailing gaily toward the narrows below the Point. Bob leveled off, they soared ahead, came partly around and climbed again at easy stages until the altimeter registered twelve hundred feet. The boy was glad that his aunt had asked no que

d o' go

minutes more, she was gazing over the side with fine unconcern. Then Bob pressed the g

brought Her Highness about, roared over the country his aunt knew; crossed the island above the bridge which connects North

he did notice that it came down to the lake on one side, and stretched back over a belt of timber and beyond a hill which looked as if it might be a very delightful place to ramble, but no good for landing a plane. As he glanced with interest at the Fenton property, he thought he saw some men in a ravine and decided they were hikers, or merely out for a stroll. Then, suddenly it occurred to him that they had no business on the pr

ssed on the water, and Bob shut off the engine. The plane began a bea

tooth, Aunt Bel

pt a wink all night thinking about it, wishin' I'd been a better Ch

d loss," J

Tourists say this fruit wagon is kind of interesting and curious, maybe you boys would like to look at it," she invited. "It comes from Montreal, through

er covered wagons that are driven thro

odness-I mustn't forget to write to your mother and tell her I

is," Bob answe

ne, which did look particularly lovely as the sun shone on her broad wings,

ck of your turkey farm," Jim volunt

ace. Sometimes the school teachers take nature classes to study the trees, and the Boy Scouts asked permission

he idea that he might have spotted something im

as a soft pleasant voice that spoke, an

r?" Bob said i

ggy trousers, tied at the knees with pieces of new hemp, a red flannel shirt, and velvet jacket. He stood over six feet in h

s strolled out on the veranda to wait for her, and they could see the huge covered truck standing under the shade of two of the maples that edged the

k like any wagon I ever

tructed for long hauls and to carry heavy loads. The "cover" was of wood

ghed Bob. "Oh, here you are." Mrs. Fenton came out with a ba

have wagons like that

t up in Canada. He has to carry a great deal of truck to make

p American good

, and pineapples, there were moccasins, Indian bows and arrows for youthful purchasers, bright blankets, and some skins hanging from the top. Mrs. Fenton looked over the wares, made her selection, and finally the transaction was completed. Pedro got a pail of wa

coming from the garden, "Here's our friend. Hello," he called. The boy stopped, eyed them keenly, then smiled and show

op, so

while," Jim roared. "You are d

that's wr

oy repeated

brother. "Jim." The boy looked at Jim, who flu

im

ot it.

p; Jim, so

the vocabulary. Ai

ob. "Bob," he explained. The boy seemed to un

in't

nsisted, pointing

b?

ded gleefully. "You're

n his face changed to a sober one, and into his deep, fine eyes, came a thoughtful look, which seemed to be habitual to them. As they met his gaze, an

gainst a plugged dime that he'd

we can't teach him more English. Th

boys watched him until a moment later he joined his Uncle, who had evidently called. They both hurried in the direction of the lake, and a few minutes later, the young Americans heard the

Jim suggested. He glanced at the marks on the rocks and sand where the boat had been left. Bob stare

covered box. It was somewhat the shape of a tobacco box such a

dropped it," Jim said as h

what that l

b

ilver watch did-you remember it got

We better keep it, and if it belo

e this everybody knows all about what everybody else owns." Jim turned the thing over in his hand again,

but all they could see was some bits of colored string.

and you'll lose it," Bob suggested, but before the words were out of his

othing but colored strings full of knots, but it's a que

oops-" Both boys turned quickly as they heard the sound of oars being plied swiftly as if someone were rowing in a grea

By that time the boy and his uncle had almost reached the

on the oars to let the boat come ashore. Corso's face lighted

r," he a

pped hastily forward and restored the find to its

and to that pure young American's utter embarrassm

right," he sai

lating himself that it was his step-brother who received the homage, but his de

Bob-Jim," he

ce flushed to the roots of his hair. In his heart he was glad that none of th

ncle said again, and

u hadn't come for it." They both bowed low, then sprang into the boat and rowed off, but now their faces were wreathed in smiles and

ench," Bob exclaimed, and the two started to run as if the Old Harry were after them. When

ll about giving it back. Perhaps it's some sort of heirloom, b

k, Corso and the boy will be friendly an

ss they give us the information without our asking for it. Dad says a gen

. "But I thought we might get an answer