"And we knew somebody must have been in here," spoke up Will, "because the door wasn"t closed as we left it, a chair had been pushed over, and some other things were disturbed. It was a great mystery to all of us, sir."
Mr. Dennison proved himself equal to the occasion. The look of consternation on his face had now given way to one of friendliness.
"Then I can plainly see how I have wronged these boys by accusing them of this mysterious taking of the golden cup," he said, frankly. "I trust all of you will forgive me, and that Gilbert will some time or other fetch you up to see me. I want particularly to become better acquainted with the one who is interested in wild animal photography."
Mr. Dennison whispered a few sentences to his nephew. Evidently he must have been telling Gilbert that he was at liberty to explain certain sad things connected with his past life, when the occasion arose, so that the boys would understand just why, for all his money, he lived in such a lonely place.
Then he said he must go, and asked Gilbert to accompany him.
"Be sure and bring that precious golden cup of yours," he told the other. "We"ll have to find a safe place to keep it, if I"m going to have any sound sleep after this. At my age I cannot afford to take chances of meeting with some accident when wandering around the woods at night-time. Good-bye, lads, and remember I shall hope to have you take supper with me some evening soon, when we can get better acquainted."
After Mr. Dennison and Gilbert had departed Frank thought again of the injured woodcutter, and, hastening out, they soon had him under the roof of the cabin.
In the morning it was decided that, as the weather seemed promising, two of them had better start for the village with the wounded man and Sandy. The boat was now in extra-good shape, and seemed hardly to leak a drop. Besides, the sooner Moogs was placed under the care of an experienced surgeon the better. Frank did not want to be responsible for the consequences any more than seemed absolutely necessary.
In time the injured woodcutter recovered from his severe wound; and the boys afterwards received a letter from Sandy, in which the boy tried hard to express the heavy obligations under which he and his "dad" felt themselves bound to the Outdoor Chums.
In the afternoon Gilbert came down to see them, and stayed over night.
As they sat around after supper and exchanged confidences the boys learned of the tragedy that had taken place in the life of Aaron Dennison. It fully explained the mystery hovering over his enclosed estate.
He had had a single child, as the poor fragment of a baby shoe had informed Frank; but the little fellow had been taken away from them.
The wife and mother had never been the same after that, though for years she continued to be the faithful partner of the man, as he fought his way up in the world.
In the end she entirely lost her reason, and Mr. Dennison, unwilling that the one he loved so fondly should be placed in even the best asylum, had conceived the idea of building this home far removed from civilization.
Here the poor lady lived attended by a trusty nurse day and night.
There were bars across the windows of her sleeping chamber, because of late she had developed a mania for wanting to leap from a height and hence they had to take all precautions.
No doubt she imagined herself a prisoner, and seeing the boys below, she had waved her handkerchief to them, and also had made gestures with her hands as though invoking their aid.
Of course Frank a.s.sured Gilbert that when they came up to take supper with his uncle not a word would be said on that painful subject. Even if they heard that pitiful wailing cry they would pretend that it was the screech of a strutting peac.o.c.k, as once they had really believed.
After that the Outdoor Chums found each day bringing new pleasures.
They went up to see Mr. Dennison, not only once but many times, for the old hermit soon found himself deeply interested in the boys. He asked a thousand questions concerning the things connected with their past, and seemed never to tire of listening while these little adventurous happenings were being narrated.
The glorious days slipped away and finally the day arrived when they must say good-bye to Cabin Point and all its happy a.s.sociations.
Will had a large number of splendid pictures to carry back; and all the boys would often think of the happy times spent at the big lake.
Other events would undoubtedly cross their path, but in reviewing the strenuous past Frank and his Outdoor Chums would always remember with deepest interest the mystery of the golden cup, and how strangely it was solved while they were in camp at Cabin Point.
THE END
Darewell Chums
SERIES
_By_ ALLEN CHAPMAN
The Heroes of the School Ned Wilding"s Disappearance Frank Roscoe"s Secret Fenn Masterson"s Discovery Bart Keene"s Hunting Days
Up and doing from the word go are these "Darewell Chums," a group of boys who stick together thru thick and thin; thru high adventure and sc.r.a.pes. On the field of sport and in the broader field of life, their comradeship persists. There are several mysteries interwoven thru these tales that baffle the most astute. To follow the fortunes of "The Darewell Chums,"
prepare for an exciting journey in Bookland.