First at the North Pole Part 48

"Yes, he was here this morning, Chet. He was full of business."

"Where did he go?"

"Up to your cabin. He was very much put out that you had gone away."

"Do you know anything of my Uncle Si?" asked Andy.

"Well, rather." The storekeeper laughed outright. "Richest thing ever was!" he chuckled.

"What?"

"The way the men around here treated him. They got tired of his laziness and habit of borrowing money, and told him he must go to work. He wouldn't do it at first, and they hauled him out of bed one night, and said they were going to tar and feather him. Then he got scared to death, and promised to go to work, and he's been at work ever since--over at Larrington's sawmill. He came in last Sat.u.r.day and paid his bill in full, and bought some groceries for spot cash. I reckon he's turned over a new leaf."

"I'll be thankful if he has," said Andy.

"By the way," continued the storekeeper, "he was talking of some property that is coming to you."

"Property?"

"Yes,--some timber land in Michigan. I believe you had the papers and lost 'em. Well, one day some hunters found the papers in the woods--pretty well soaked, but all there--and they brought 'em to your Uncle Si. He's got 'em now, and he's waiting to hear from you. He told me a real estate fellow named Hopton wanted 'em, but he was going to hold on to 'em until he heard from you."

"Good for Uncle Si!" cried Andy. "He is coming to his senses at last! I am glad the papers have been found. I must see him at once!"

CHAPTER x.x.xI

GOOD NEWS--CONCLUSION

To get to his own place, Chet had to pa.s.s the cabin belonging to Andy, and so the chums left the village together, in a carriage they hired with some of the money Barwell Dawson had given them.

The thoughts of each youth were busy, so but little was said by them during the journey. As they came in sight of Andy's home, they saw smoke curling from the chimney.

"Uncle Si must have gotten back from work," said Andy. "Most likely he's cooking supper. Chet, will you stop?"

"Well, I'd rather see my father first," was the answer.

"I don't blame you. Well, come over tomorrow, unless----h.e.l.lo, there is a stranger!"

Andy pointed to a man who had come to the cabin door, he having heard the sound of the carriage wheels. Chet stared hard at the individual.

Then he took a flying leap to the ground and ran forward.

"Father!"

The man started, and then flung out his hands.

"If it isn't Chet--my own son Chet!" he burst out, joyfully. "I was just wis.h.i.+ng with all my heart that I knew where you were." And he shook hands over and over again.

"And I've been hurrying to you as fast as I could for weeks," answered Chet, with a glad look in his eyes. "I heard you were at our cabin, and was going there."

"I was there, and came here to ask Mr. Graham about you," answered Tolney Greene.

Josiah Graham had come to the door, holding in his hand a frying pan containing bacon. He gave one look at the newcomers.

"Andy!" he burst out, and in his amazement let the frying pan clatter to the doorstep, scattering the strips of bacon in all directions. "Is it really you, or your ghost?"

"No ghost about me, Uncle Si," answered the boy. "They tell me you have gone to work."

"Why, er--ye-as, I have a job at the sawmill."

"I am glad to know it."

"I--er--I got over my sickness, an' so I'm a-goin' to work stiddy after this," went on Josiah Graham, lamely.

"That's the best news I've heard in a year."

"Where have you been, Andy?"

"Oh, on a little trip, to the North Pole and elsewhere," was the cool reply.

"You're joking me! But have your fun,--it ain't none o' my affair. But I want to tell yer somethin'," went on the old man, impressively. "I got them papers back."

"So I heard. I hope you'll not give them to that A. Q. Hopton."

"Not much! Hopton is a swindler--I found thet out in Portland, when I was there."

"What about Hopton?" demanded Mr. Greene, who had been in earnest conversation with Chet. "Do you mean the real estate dealer?"

"I do," answered Josiah Graham.

"Where is he now? He is the man who caused me all my trouble. Just let me get at him! He covered up his tracks pretty well, but I've now got the evidence against him."

"I don't know where Hopton is now, but I guess I kin find out," answered Josiah Graham.

All entered the cabin, and there each told his story in detail. The men listened to the boys in open-mouthed wonder.

"And to think you came north, and was so close to me!" said Mr. Greene to his son.

He said he had been half crazy when he signed articles for the trip on the _Betsey Andrews_. Then he had gotten word about A. Q. Hopton, and had discovered that the real estate man was guilty of the crimes of which he himself was accused. He had gone to the captain of the whaler to get his release, but the captain had refused to let him go, and had locked him up aboard the s.h.i.+p until the voyage was well begun.

"He was a strange man, that captain," said Mr. Greene. "And it is no wonder that he lost his s.h.i.+p and his life in the frozen north."

"And you have the evidence to prove your innocence, and prove this A. Q.

Hopton guilty?" asked Chet.

"Yes, my son, I can prove that Hopton was guilty, and n.o.body else."