“I think I’ll keep on trying,” Dan said. “Not that it will mean much if we do puzzle out the thing. Jacques is gone, and probably we’ll never see him again.”
“Wonder what became of that kid anyhow?” Brad mused. “It sure was funny, finding him on the beach the way we did.”
“And he never told us his name or explained anything. I’d say there was every indication someone came and took him away.”
“Mr. Hatfield made inquiries,” Brad added. “No one saw the boy leave the Cave. He’s unknown in Webster City.”
Although Dan and the other Cubs had kept a close watch of the waterfront, they had sighted no boat which resembled the one that had damaged Mr. Holloway’s craft. Therefore, the conviction steadily grew that Mr. Manheim’s speedboat might be the one involved.
“Mr. Manheim is well spoken of at the club,” Midge’s father told the boys. “It would be a serious mistake if we made any accusation against him or any of his employees. The boat has been repaired, and as far as I’m concerned, the matter will be dropped.”
Dan and Midge said no more about the affair, but in private they often remarked that they thought Wilson Jabowski, the caretaker on Skeleton Island, would bear investigation.
“I hear he hasn’t worked very long for Mr. Manheim,” Dan remarked. “And folks say that when his employer is out of town, he rides around in that speedboat like a king.”
“Maybe if we keep our eyes open we’ll catch up with him yet,” Midge said. “He may crack into another boat.”
On the regular Friday night meeting of the Den, the Cubs enjoyed the beach treasure hunt which had been interrupted at the previous gathering. Mack and Fred came off victorious, their clues leading them to the buried chest which contained carpenter’s tools.