“Yes, because—well, I didn’t want folks to find out from the Blossmore authorities that the man was my uncle,” answered Nat, casting down his eyes. “I thought I might be able to catch him and send him back on the quiet. I didn’t want the whole school talking about it.”
“I can understand your feelings, Nat,” said our hero, kindly. “And if I can help you in the matter, I’ll do it.”
“I suppose you’ll tell everybody he’s my uncle,” came bitterly from the money-lender’s son.
“No, I won’t. But I think Doctor Clay ought to know it.”
“And what of your folks?” asked Roger. “Do they know?”
“I sent my dad a letter about it last week. But he is away on business, so I don’t know when he’ll get it or what he’ll do. I didn’t let the Blossmore folks know because I don’t think my 205 uncle ought to go back to that place. He ought to be put in an institution where they are more strict, so he can’t get away again.”
“You are right there,” said Dave.
“Nat, don’t you know it is highly dangerous to allow that man at large?” asked the senator’s son, after a pause, during which the three boys turned their footsteps towards the island cabin.
“Oh, I don’t think he is as dangerous as some folks imagine,” was the reply. “He has never actually harmed anybody yet. But he scares ’em.”
“He may have committed some deeds of which you know nothing.”