Within a few days it turned out that Oliver Dixon was wanted in the north for an act of dishonesty that he had believed would never be traced to him. As Tremaine was disinclined to drag his own household through the courts as witnesses, he arranged with the Florida authorities to drop the charge against Dixon, allowing him to be extradited to the Northern state where the young man was also wanted. Dixon is now serving a term in prison for embezzlement.
Six months afterwards Ida Silsbee became engaged to a cavalry officer in the Army, to whom she is now married.
The motors of the “Restless” proved to be uninjured. The boat and her crew remained for some weeks longer under charter to Henry Tremaine, most of the time being spent in cruising in Florida waters.
The Ghost of Alligator Swamp was so effectually laid that it has never been heard from since by the residents of lower Florida.
Jeff Randolph remained for some weeks aboard the “Restless,” learning more and more about the work and the life. He is now a member of the Motor Boat Club, and mate aboard one of the largest motor yachts in Southern waters.
Ham Mockus is now assistant steward on one of the Havana boats.
Tom Halstead and Joe Dawson? They remained afloat, of course. They had their most stirring adventures and their most thrilling experiences with sea perils yet ahead of them, as will be related in the next volume of this series, which will be published at once under the title: “The Motor Boat Club at the Golden Gate; Or, A Thrilling Capture in the Great Fog.”
[The End.]
Transcriber’s Notes: