The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview Part 26

WORDS AND BLOWS.

The very first words spoken by Si Peters confirmed the young oarsman's suspicious.

"What did you do with the valise, Wash?" he asked.

"Left it on the yacht at the cove," replied Wash Crosby.

"That's where you made a big mistake."

"How so?" growled the toady.

"They might take it into their heads to search the yacht."

"Oh, I guess not."

"We don't want to run any chances of being found out."

"We're all right; don't worry."

"Perhaps we are and perhaps we are not."

"Oh, keep still, and let us enjoy the music," growled Crosby, for an orchestra was now playing.

A waiter came up and Si Peters gave an order. Jerry was quite sure he had ordered something stronger than what he was in the habit of drinking at home. It was evident that the bully of Rockpoint had turned out even worse than before.

"What shall we do?" whispered Harry.

"We ought to inform the police."

"Just my idea of it."

"I don't know if there are any officers around here."

"Oh, there must be."

They looked around, but in the darkness no policeman could be seen.

"You stay here and I'll go hunt up somebody," said Jerry.

Scarcely had he spoken, however, when their attention was attracted to a row that was taking place in the concert hall. Two men were fighting, and presently a chair flew through the air.

At once those sitting around tried to retire.

Peters and Crosby rushed out in the crowd, and not to lose sight of the pair Jerry and Harry went after them.

Fifty feet from the concert hall the four came face to face. Si Peters started back, and Wash Crosby wanted to run for it.

"Who--what?" stammered Peters.

"We have caught you," said Jerry, boldly. "You may as well give in."

"What do you mean?"

"We know that that you robbed the Rockpoint Hotel," said Harry.

"It's not so," cried Crosby.

"Shut up!" hissed Si Peters.

Without warning he hit Jerry a sharp blow in the face. Then he rushed at Harry and tripped him up.

"Come on!" he yelled to Crosby "We must get away!"

Like a deer he ran off, behind a large roller coaster where all was dark.

Jerry stopped Peters, but only for a moment. Heavy blows were exchanged and then Peters followed his chum.

"They are gone, sure enough!" cried Harry, in dismay.

And gone they were, swallowed up in the crowd which surged on all sides of them.

Jerry and Harry searched in vain for the two evil-doers and then hunted up the police and told their story.

A watch was set, but Si Peters and Wash Crosby managed to escape from the beach resort without being detected.

Jerry and Harry returned to Lakeview with the Whistler, and the report spread that Si Peters and Wash Crosby had robbed the hotel.

At first Mr. Peters refused to believe it. He came over to Jerry's home, and threatened Mr. Upton with a lawsuit.

But the farmer quickly silenced him.

"Don't say a word to me, Mr. Peters," he said. "A boy that will try to tar and feather another boy, and then set fire to a barn and burn up cattle, isn't none too good to rob a hotel."

"My son is as good as yours!" growled Mr. Peters, and went off in a perfect rage. But he bothered the Uptons no more, nor did he go near the Parkers.

The lake was searched, and the yacht found up at the cove Si Peters had mentioned. On board was found the valise taken from the hotel.

After this detectives were sent out to find the two young rascals. But Si Peters and Wash Crosby kept out of sight.

Yet the day of reckoning was not far off, as we shall soon see.

About a week after this Harry invited Jerry to a drive along the west sh.o.r.e of Lake Otasco.

As they bowled along they talked over all sorts of matters, and presently Harry mentioned Si Peters and Wash Crosby.

"I wonder if they are still hanging around Harmony Beach?" he said.

"Oh, I don't think they would dare," replied Jerry. "They must know by the newspapers that the detectives are on their track."