Frank and Andy Afloat Part 21

"I guess you'll have to give it up," said Paul one night, when, with his chums and Mr. and Mrs. Racer, he was discussing the case. "You better ship me off somewhere. I--I'm afraid I'm becoming a burden to you."

"Not a bit of it!" cried Frank heartily. "Andy and I always wanted another chum, an' now we've got him."

"Don't you feel strong enough to come for sail with us to-morrow?"

asked Andy.

"I think so," answered Paul. "Dr. Martin said I could go for a walk to-morrow."

"Then we'll arrange for a sail," decided Frank. "It will do you lots of good."

"But mind, no chasing after whales, dead or alive!" stipulated Mr.

Racer, with a laugh.

"All right," agreed his sons.

Paul soon afterward went to his room. A chamber on the ground floor, with a window opening into the garden had been fitted up for him, to save him the necessity of climbing up and down stairs. It was in this little chamber that, soon afterward, he went to bed, hoping against hope that he might awaken on the morrow with his memory restored.

It was about midnight when Frank, who was a light sleeper, was awakened suddenly by hearing a noise under his window. He occupied the room over Paul.

"I wonder if he's sick?" he thought, as he arose softly. "Perhaps he is, and doesn't want to call anyone. I'll take a look I guess."

Before going down, however, Frank stepped to his window, softly raised the screen, and looked out. As he did so he was startled by a shrill cry from the room below him. It was Paul's voice, and the mysterious lad was crying:

"Get away! Leave me alone! What do you want of me again? Oh, why can't you let me alone!"

"What's the matter?" shouted Frank in alarm.

"That man! He's after me again!" screamed Paul.

Before Frank could leave his window to rush to the aid of the lad below him, he saw a bright light flash out from the cas.e.m.e.nt of the boy who had no memory. In an instant Frank recalled that it must be the portable electric light with which they had furnished the invalid in case he wanted to get up in the night.

Then a movement below him attracted Frank's attention, and he saw a dark figure spring from Paul's window. As this happened the light flashed out once more, and in the glare of it the elder Racer lad saw the countenance of the mysterious man, while Paul called out in fear:

"Oh, don't come near me! Let me alone! I'm afraid of you!"

Then it became dark, and Frank could hear someone crashing away through the bushes of the garden.

CHAPTER XIV

THE WRECK AGAIN

"Paul, are you hurt? I'm coming! Father, turn on the light! Someone tried to get in Paul's room!"

Thus Frank cried as he made his way through the darkness to the hall, and fairly ran down the stairs. He knew every foot of the way.

"What's the matter?" yelled Andy.

"Oh, dear! Is it burglars?" screamed Mrs. Racer.

"Careful, boys!" shouted Mr. Racer, as he stepped out into the hall from his room, nearest to which the electric switch was, and flashed on the incandescents. "Don't run into danger."

Andy was now following his brother, having caught up a heavy fishing rod, bound together, as a subst.i.tute for a club.

"Paul, are you hurt?" cried Frank again, and by this time he was at the room door of the lad who had been so alarmed by the midnight visitor.

"No, I--I'm all right," was the panting answer, and Paul met Frank at the portal, throwing the gleam of the hand electric all about. Frank turned on the regular light in Paul's room, and looked around. The wire mosquito screen was raised, showing how the intruder had gained entrance. By this time Andy and Mr. Racer had joined Frank and Paul, and Mrs. Racer had been a.s.sured that whoever had entered was now outside the house.

"But what was it? Who was it?" demanded Mr. Racer.

"I--I--" began Paul, who was trembling from fright.

"I know who it was, I saw him!" interrupted Frank. "It was the same man we met on the beach--the mysterious man who knows something about Paul but who won't tell! What did he do to you, Paul?"

"Nothing. That is, as far as I know. I was sleeping soundly when I heard a noise in my room, and I could just see someone moving about around the bureau, opening drawers. At first I thought it was one of you boys, or Mr. Racer, and then I knew you wouldn't come in without making a light.

"I reached under my pillow where I kept this electric lamp, and flashed it. As I did so the man came toward my bed. Then I saw who he was and I yelled. I thought he was going to take me away."

"Take you away?" questioned Frank. "Do you know him--have you seen him before?"

"Yes!" suddenly exclaimed Paul. "I--I know him! His name is--"

"That's what we want to know--who is he?" interrupted Andy eagerly.

"He is--his name is--Oh, why can't I remember?" cried poor Paul, pa.s.sing his hand over his forehead in despair. "I thought it was coming to me, but it's faded away again! Oh, why can't I recall who he is? Then I know the mystery would be solved. But I can't--it's all--so--so hazy. Only I know that this man had something to do with me--and, yes, I'm beginning to recall it now--my father also. He wanted to harm me--or was it my father? I can't--"

"Now look here," broke in Mr. Racer kindly, "this won't do, you know.

You must calm yourself, Paul. I can't let you excite him, boys. Here is some quieting medicine Dr. Martin left, Paul. Take that and in half an hour you will be calmer. Then you can tell us all you recollect.

Perhaps by that time your memory will be stronger. Meanwhile, if you boys want to do something why don't you get some clothes on, and go with Jake the gardener to see if you can get any trace of that scoundrel? I'll call up the police."

"Good!" cried Frank. "That's what we'll do. Come on, Andy."

The two boys were soon scouring the garden with lantern, accompanied by Jake, the man of all work. But they had little hope of coming upon the intruder. They found the place where he had burst through the currant bushes after leaping from Paul's window, and there were his footprints in the soft earth; but that was all.

"He's far enough off by this time," declared Andy. "Let's go in and see if Paul can tell us anything."

They found their friend much quieter. Mr. and Mrs. Racer had dressed, and Paul had on his clothes. They were sitting in the dining room, Mr.

Racer drinking some hot coffee Mary had made.

"We'll have a little midnight supper," said the boys' mother with a faint laugh. "I'm sure I won't get to sleep again to-night."

"Did you see anything of him?" asked their father.

Frank shook his head. "What about Paul?" he asked. "Can he remember anything?"

"I wish I could," said the unfortunate youth, with a sigh. "But it's all so hazy. As soon as I saw that man's face in the light I knew I had met him before, and that he was an enemy of mine. But I can't grasp any details. I flashed the light on him as he was getting out of the window."