SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS
Under the skill of the physicians at the lake sanitarium Mr.Duncan's wound was quickly attended to and the bleeding, which Tom had partly checked, was completely stopped.Some medicines having been administered, the hunter regained a little of his strength, and, about an hour after be had been brought to the resort, he was able to see Tom, who, at his request, was admitted to his room.The young inventor found Mr.Duncan propped up in bed, with his injured arm bandaged.
"Is the injury a bad one?"asked Tom, entering softly.
"Not as bad as I feared," replied the hunter, while a trained nurse placed a chair for the lad at the bedside."If it had not been for you, though, I'm afraid to think of what might have happened.""I am glad I chanced to be going past when you called," replied thelad.
"Well, you can imagine how thankful I am," resumed Mr.Duncan."I'llthank you more properly at another time.I hope I didn't delay you on your trip.""It's not of much consequence," responded the youth."I was only going to see that everything was all right at our house," and he explained about his father being at the hotel and mentioned his worriment."I will go on now unless I can do something more for you," resumed Tom."I will probably stay at our house all night to-night instead of trying to get back to Sandport.""I'd like to send word to my wife about what has happened," said the hunter."If it would not be too much out of your way, I'd appreciate it if you could stop at my home in Waterford and tell her, so she will not be alarmed at my absence.""I'll do it," replied our hero."There is no special need of my hurrying.I have brought your gun and compass up from the boat.They are down in the office.""Will you do me a favor?"asked Mr.Duncan quickly."Of course.""Then please accept that gun and compass with my compliments.They are both of excellent make, and I don't think I shall use that gun this season.My wife would be superstitious about it.As for the compass, you'll need one in this fog, and I can recommend mine as being accurate.""Oh, I couldn't think of taking them," expostulated Tom, but his eyes sparkled in anticipation, for he had been wishing for a gun such as Mr.Duncan owned.He also needed a compass.
"If you don't take them I shall feel very much offended," the hunter said, "and the nurse here will tell you that sick persons ought to be humored.Hadn't they?" and he appealed to the pretty young woman, who was smiling at Tom.
"That's perfectly true," she said, showing her white, even teeth."I think, Mr.Swift, I shall have to order you to take them.""All right," agreed Tom, "only it's too much for what I did.""It isn't half enough," remarked Mr.Duncan solemnly."Just explain matters to my wife, if you will, and tell her the doctor says I can be out in about a week.But I'm not going hunting or practicing shots again."A little later Tom, with the compass before him to guide him on his course through the fog, was speeding his boat toward Waterford.Now and then he glanced at the fine shotgun which he had so unexpectedly acquired.
"This will come in dandy this fall!" he exclaimed."I'll go hunting quail and partridge as well as wild ducks.This compass is just what I need, too."Mrs.Duncan was at first very much alarmed when Tom started to tell her of the accident, but she soon calmed down as the lad went more into details and stated how comparatively out of danger her husband now was.The hunter's wife insisted that Tom remain to dinner, and as he had made up his mind he would have to devote two days instead of one to the trip to his house, he consented.
The fog lifted that afternoon, and Tom, rejoicing in the sunlight, which drove away the storm clouds, speeded up the ARROW until she was skimming over the lake like a shaft from a bow.
"This is something like," he exclaimed."I'll soon be at home, findeverything all right and telephone to dad.Then I'll sleep in my own room and start back in the morning."When Tom was within a few miles of his own boathouse he heard behind him the "put-put" of a motor craft.Turning, he saw the RED STREAK fairly flying along at some distance from him.
