Dan Carter and the River Camp Part 30

Neither of the policemen had seen Eddie.

"He threatened me," Dan revealed. "Warned me not to identify someone in the line-up. And he had a revolver."

Now very much interested, the policemen went outside the building to look up and down the street. Paper Bag Eddie was nowhere to be seen.

"Probably hailed a taxi and made a quick getaway," one of the officers said. "Listen, Dan. Don't pay any attention to what he told you. It was all bluff. You go in there and identify your man if you can."

"I intend to," Dan announced, his face grim. "He can't scare me."

"Good!" the policeman approved. "Now follow me."

Dan was led through a series of corridors and up an elevator to an inner room. There he was introduced to Detective Jim Blackwell and Sergeant Amos Davis.

"Now in a moment, several men will walk across a lighted stage in front of you," Sergeant Davis explained. "You'll be behind this screen, protected from their view. Don't say anything, but look closely at each man. If you recognize any of them, tell me later. Got it?"

Dan nodded. His heart pounded with excitement. He had made up his mind to identify the motorboat operator if he possibly could.

But he couldn't forget about Eddie and the revolver in the paper bag.

Somehow he had a feeling that the threat had not been entirely bluff.

The stage now was flooded with blinding light. One at a time, six men walked into Dan's range of vision.

The first three he had never seen before and resembled no one he had ever known. Dan gave them scarcely a second glance.

At sight of the fourth man in the line-up, he stiffened. Although the fellow tried to look unconcerned, Dan could see that he was worried. He knew him instantly as the sailor he had seen talking to Paper Bag Eddie.

Also, he was reasonably certain that the man was the same one who had operated the motorboat.

"He's the one!" Dan whispered.

"Sure?"

"Almost positive."

The men in the line-up were taken away and the stage darkened. Dan then was led to an adjoining room where he was questioned as to his identification and other information.

Dan told the entire story, including his suspicions that Jabowski might be supplying the river pirates with gasoline.

He related also how Jacques had disappeared from the Cave under mysterious circ.u.mstances, the theft of the coded message, and finally, of seeing the boy again on the island.

"It gave me a real shock to see him standing there at the window," he ended the account. "I tried to signal him, but I don't think he saw me.

After awhile, he stepped back out of sight. I figure though that Jabowski is holding him there against his will."

"You've given us some good tips, kid," the police officer praised Dan.

"Maybe we'll drop around at the island and give it a thorough going over."

"A raid on the hotel?"

"You might call it that."

"Whatever you do, don't arrest any of the Cubs that are camped on the island," Dan said anxiously.

His remark amused the officer. "You figure we can't tell a Cub from a crook?" he chuckled.

"I didn't mean that, sir," Dan replied, flushing.

"We'll look out for your friends," the officer rea.s.sured him. "Don't you worry."

Orders were given for squad members to contact Mr. Manheim, the island owner, and then to proceed to the old hotel for a search of the premises.

"We'll take you along with us, Dan," the officer told him. "You'll be needed to point out this boy Jacques who is being held a prisoner, you say."

In the squad car, the boy was driven to Mr. Manheim's office. As his accusations were repeated, the island owner bristled with anger.

"Tommy rot!" he exploded. "My man Jabowski is to be trusted completely!

This boy must be out of his head! Such grat.i.tude. And after all I've done for the Cubs!"

After storming about for awhile, Mr. Manheim agreed to accompany police to the island. During the swift boat ride across the river, he refused to speak to Dan.

At the Cub camp, Mr. Hatfield and Midge's father both had returned.

Already they had received a report from Brad and the other boys. But to see Dan arrive with a squad of policemen was something of a surprise.

"I hope you're making no mistake," Mr. Hatfield remarked to the boy after he had been informed that the hotel was to be searched. "Mr. Manheim looks as angry as a hornet! If you should be wrong-"

"All the Cubs saw Jacques at the window," Brad said, coming to Dan's defense. "The boy must be somewhere on the island."

While the Cubs and their leaders approached the hotel by an overland route, police made a swift motorboat descent upon the building, tying up at the old dock.

Accompanied by Mr. Manheim, they presented themselves at the front door.

There was no response to their knock.

"I should have a key," Mr. Manheim said, searching for it in his pocket.

"Don't know what became of it. I've not used it in six months."

Just then an upstairs window opened and Jabowski looked down on the group.

"What d'you want?" he demanded. Then, recognizing his employer, he said quickly: "Oh, it's you, Mr. Manheim."

"Open the door," the island owner ordered. "Police insist on searching the place."

"I'll be right down," the caretaker replied, leaving the window.

A moment later he unlocked the front door, staring curiously at the members of the police squad.

"Sorry, our orders are to search the place," one of the officers apologized. "Mind if we look around?"

"Go ahead," Jabowski shrugged. "I only work here."