IP lOPWEEKL “xN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR‘THE AMERICAN YOUTH ” Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Antered as Second Class Matter at the N. ¥. . Post Office by STREET & SMITH, No. 106, _NE Ww YORK, April 23, 1898. Price 5 Cents, K [JERR Th THE MONSTER ie ¥ -w -s ~ HH ii ge _ iN hoa fatshrrercome STUNG BY THE BULLET, THE MONSTER OF THE DEKP RUSHED AT THE BOAT, “AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH.” Tie Tore WEEKLY. Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Si, NX No. 106 Putered as Second Class Matier at the N, Entered Aceording to Act of Congress, in ue Year 1898, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, W ashington, D.C. “NEW. YORK, “April 23, 1898. Y. Post Office. SvyREnT & SMITH, 238 William Price Five e ents. ed tints of This Number. FRANK MERRIWELL’S MYSTERY; or, The Monster of Devil Island = ONE HUNDRED PRIZES - - TALKS WITH TIP TOP READERS CORRESPONDENCE - - A TEN-DOLLAR BILL - - WHERE CORKS ARE GROWN - COMIC COLUMN - - - RANK MERRIWELL’S MYSTERY; ’ THE MONSTER OF DEVIL ISLAND. By the Author of ‘‘FRANK MERRIWELL. CHAPTER I. OFF FOR BAR HARBOR, It was nearly midnight when a_ boat containing four lads pushed out from Fish Market Wharf and pulled down Camden Harbor toward the fleet of yachts that lay anchored in Dillingham’s Cove, The moon had dropped down into tlie west, but it still shed its pure white - light on the unrippled water of the har, bor, and, despite the lateness of the hour- -. several boating. parties were out. From away toward the Spindles caine tlre sound ofa song, in which four musical voices blended harmoniously. Nothing stirs the sutire soul with a sense of the beautiful like the sound of a distant song floating over the silvered bosom of a peaceful bay moonlight. night in mid- | ner. Hodge and Diamond, who were ‘or lake on a “Nor is ek moved with rowing the boat, rested on their oars, and the four lads listened a long time. ‘‘Beautiful!’? murmured Merriwell, who was sitting in the stern of the boat, the rudder lines in his hands. Browning grunted. ‘“The yelling of the Camden crowd on the Rockland ball ground to-day sounded better to me,’’ he said. Quoth Merriwell: ‘ ‘“Huah berth. ‘‘Anybody might have known it! Think of John Diamond, of Virginia, getting soft ona Boston girl! Ha! ha! ha!’ The big fellow’s words and ! grunted Browning, from his laughter irritated Diamond, and he snapped: 3 ‘I don’t see what there is so very funny about that!’ Then Browning laughed all the more, ‘saying: ‘fYou see he doesn’t deny it, fellows. I suspected it when they met in Rock- land. It was a case of love ‘Paula Benjamin is a splendid girl,’’ said Frank, ‘‘and you are stuck on her yourself, Browning. Jealousy is what ails ryon.- The big fellow flopped over in his berth with remarkable suddenness, his face becoming wonderfully red. ‘*Now look here, Merriwell,’’ he ex- claiined, ‘that won’t go down with this crowd. You all know I don’t care a rap about girls, and——”’ “‘Vot made you got so red aroundt aes gills, Pruce?’’? chuckled Hans. ‘‘Dot ee a deadt gife avay.”’ Jack. was glad the tables were turned, Pee he joined in the general laugh. “Oh, go to thunder, the whole of = you!’’ roared Browning, as he again _ flopped over in his berth. pra What would we do with the girls?” asked Hodge. ‘‘We have not sufficient room on the boat to accommodate them z) here, and——.”? _ ‘There must be some sort of a hotel at pret: s Landing, ’» said Diamond, at first sight.’ Bar Harbor to Green’s Southwest Harbor the wind proved some- quickly. ‘‘Of course, Miss Gale, Inza’s aunt, would go along as chaperon.”’ ‘Well, it would be a change from Bar Harbor,’’ said Frank. ‘‘’ much like all other resorts to suit me, like running away and leaving the girl They would think it a mean trick if we were to do’so so soon.”’ “*Perhaps they won’t go,’’ who did not seem much project. ‘Well we can ask them,’’ spoke up Diamond, quickly. “‘Tam to see Inza this evening, and I'll find out about it,’’ said Frank. ‘‘If they can go, we want to get away bright and early to-morrow, providing there is a breeze.’’ ‘his place is too fashionable seaside and still I do not feel S said Hodge, in favor of the CHAPTER IU. THE MAN WHO SAW THE MONSTER. The girls gladly welcomed the plan, for they felt there would be much pleasure in a cruise among the islands of the bay. At first, however, Miss Gale was opposed to it, but Frank won her over, as Inza felt certain he could. | So the next morning the girls ap- peared on the pier at an early hour, ac- companied by the stern-faced but kind- hearted old maid, having been brought down from the hotel by a carriage. The boys were on the watch for them, and a boat, containing Frank and’ Jack, pushed off from the White Wings imme- diately. The girls, the chaperon, the baggage - —all were taken into the boat and soon set aboard the yacht. Half -an hour later, with all sails set, the White Wings out to round the end of the breakwater. With favorable wind and conditions it is just a delightful half-day’s cruise from Landing. Off Ww as running 6 FRANK thing of a gale, as nothing in the shape of land lay between them and the open ocean, from which the wind swept in powerfully. Although the yacht buried her board rail at times and fairly through the water, Frank did not take a reef in a single sail, for there were no and ‘‘corinthian’’? though he was, he was gaining confidence ability to handle the White Wings. Paula was rather timid, joyed every moment of the sail. position near Frank, wheel, she chatted and laughed, the least affected by the motion or the heeling’ of the sloop. Remarkable to state, Browning did not remain below and sleep in his bunk, as was his custom. He came on deck, look- ing remarkably wide-awake, and he made himself agreeable to the girls and Miss Gale. There was not swell enough to make any one seasick, which added to the pleasures of the cruise. Diamond was doing his best to make himself agreeable to Paula, and she seeined to find his company acceptable, but, after a time, she called Bruce to her, so that she was between them. “Don’t vou think Mr. Merriwell very reckless, Mr. Browning?’’ she asked. ‘“‘Mr, Diamond insists there is no danger, but just see how frightfully the eae tips at times ?’’ ‘‘Of course I wouldn’t want to frighten you, Miss Benjamin,’’ said Bruce, giving her a significant look and winking toward Jack; ‘‘but we all know Frank Merri- well’s a veritable landlubber, and he hasn’t any more judgment about running a boat like this than a four-year-old youngster.” Paula looked ciated at this, and Dia- . mond sues ESO something under his breath. - When Jack. star- hissed squails, in his but Inza en- Witha at the not in who was was not looking, Bruce MERRIWELL’S MYSTERY. whispering: ‘‘Not the least danger in the world Miss Benjamin.’’ She looked relieved, and then a mis be bo Diamond, “Mr, I was Himedi iety ahs ae to frightened and indignant with > “T knew it!’’ she exclaimed. Diamond could ee ine. sure there was great danger.’ not ed the big fellow, in — ‘we may reach Green’s but the chances ar **Of course, ”’ his peculiar way, Landing in safety, against it. mured, nestling a bit nearer the big fel while Jack ground his teeth an Jooked as if he longed to murder some body. ‘‘How far away is the mainland?’ “Only about five miles—a sae walk Hem! I mean a shott swim. Diamond sourly observed : ‘Without doubt you could wate r much easier than you could swim it, Mr Browning.”’ ‘ ‘Oh, low, that is an easy swim,’’ sa 3ruce, off hand. ‘‘I have often swa: ten or fifteen miles. Without doubt could get Miss Benjamin safely ees F swimmer near one—I ae said Paula. Under his growled something ‘‘oonfounded liar.”’ ‘*ERh ?? said Bruce. saying, sir??? so safe now,” breath, the’ Virginia that sounded ae. were ¥a But Jack looked away, pretending” be interested in a distant isla showed his anger so plainly that Pat was aroused to tease him still more, ; she turned to chat: confidentially wi Prue: FRANK MERRIWELL’S MYSTERY. Jack could not stand that a great while. With a sudden assumption of having for- gotten ‘something, he politely excuse himself and went below. He did not come-on deck again till Green’s Landing ‘was in sight, although he missed -the most captivating portion of the sail across the Eastern Bay. As for Browning, he had started into the affair in jest, but he grew more and more interested in Paula as they:talked during the sail. He found her remarkably bright. and sensible not. at all ‘“flighty.’? She talked to him of things in which he was interested, and he was as- tonished by the-knowledge she displayed concerning some things of which he had not fancied she was posted in the least. On the other hand, the Boston girl was and astonished to find in Bruce, who had on first acquaintance seemed somewhat slow and dull, a fellow who was interesting in various ways, who did not talk nonsense to her the moment the opportunity offered to say something that she alone could hear, who had an air of dignity and — was not at all self-conscious. Never before in all his life had Bruce made a_ better appearance, and, long be- fore Green’s Landing was sighted, Paula had quite forgotten that Diamond had left them and had not returned. | ‘There were other vessels and yachts in the harbor at Green’s Landing, more of them than any of the party had expected to see there. In fact, there was an air of prosperity about the town built on the slope facing the harbor, although there ‘were 00 large and attractive buildings, and the houses seemed scattered about in a ~ helter-skelter manner. - The White Wings ran in amid the vessels and swung up head to the wind, her anchor going over with a splash and her sails coming down as if the halyards were handled by veteran yachtsmen, in- stead of a lot of amateurs. a In fact, Merriwell had sailed the boat 7 like one familiar with the Eastern Bay, seeming to fear no dangers from sunken ledges and shoals, and his air was that of a veteran yachtsman. But he had spent hours over his chart, so that he was perfectly familiar with its appearance, could have drawn from memory a practically perfect chart, marking every ledge, every shoal and every islaud and giving them their cor- and he rect names. Having become thus familiat with the chart, it was. not so strange that he had been able to sail across the Eastern Bay as if tt were the open sea. Having come to anchor, Paula was for going ashore at’ once, but Frank urged them to remain and take lunch on board the yacht, and Inza was pleased with the idea, so they stopped. That was a jolly luncheon. There was plenty to eat, and plenty of light beers, kept cool by the fresh supply of ice taken in at Bar Harbor. ‘The sailors on. board the vessels in the vicinity looked on with interest, envying the merry party. Not all on the White Wings were merry. Jack Diamond was silent, and not once did a smile cross kis face. Paula tried to cheer him up, but she did not succeed at all, and so she finally gave up in despair, again turning to Browning. An hour after luncheon was over, Bruce and Frank set the girls and Miss Gale ashore, carrying their luggage up to the hotel, where accommodations were ob- tained, : ‘“We will leave here to-morrow, if you get enough of the place in that time,’’ said Frank, having seen them to their rooms. He went down into the office of the hotel, where several rough-looking meu were listening to the yarn of a red-headed, red-bearded man in rubber boots. Bruce seemed to be listening to the story, anc, when Frank said something about going out, he grunted: ‘Wait a minute.’? a”, I made up my mind I might as well hang — FRANK MERRIWELL’S MYSTERY. "Ves, sir,’’? said the red-headed man, squirting a stream of tobacco juice at the stove, which was well plastered with it already, ‘‘I have seen the critter, and I know, by huck, it ain’t no lie. He’s right there on the island, and if he ain’t the Old Devil hisself, he’s clost relation to him.”’ ‘‘Now I pull my traps right down past there every day,’’ said an old lobster fisherman, ‘‘and I swanny I ain’t never seen northing of this here pesky critter. Hf Jeb warn’t sech a dinger liar,’’ with a jerk of his thumb toward the red-headed man, ‘‘I’d jest go down there myself and spend some time a huntin’ this critter with horns an’ hoofs an’ glarin’ eyes. I’d find out what sort of a critter it was,”’ ““Oh, yes!’’? returned the one who had been derisively designated as a liar, ‘‘ef you wasn’t sech a darn coward you might do something of the kind, Sile; but you are the biggest coward this side of Long Islan’, so the critter down on Devil Island won’t git bothered by you none to men- tion.’? This was said with the utmost calm- ness, the speaker not seeming in the least excited by being called a liar, nor did the man he had designated as a coward do anything more than grunt derisively and remark: ‘“That’s all right, Jeb. Don’t nobody. take no stock in what you say, and, though this yarn about a critter on Devil Island has been goin’ abaout a year, I don’t know a mortal bein’ whose word is wu’th a cod-line that ever said he saw the varmint. Whut you’re lookin’ for is -notyrietiveness, an’ that’s why ye’re tell- in’ stich stuff.’’ “*T know whut I seen, an’ I’ll swan to man that I did see the Monster of Devil Island, as folks round here call him. I'd been down to York Island in my pinkey A and was tryin’ to git back here before night, but the wind died out jest asdark, an’ up in Bold Island harbor as to spend half the night gittin’ to the landin’, an’ take a chance of straddlin’ a ledge. I got inter — the harbor all right an’ kinder thought I’d try ter root out a few clams on Bold. Island beach. My old boat laid nearer to. the back of Devil Island than it did to 30ld Island. I rowed off to Bold Island in my dory, but the tide was comin’ in, | an’ I didn’t git no clams to speak of. It was plum dark when I pulled back to- the pinkey. Jest as I run alongside, ie: : heered a sound that riz my hair, by ~ huck! It was kinder like a groan anda smothered screech, an’ I swan to man if it didn’t seem to come right out of my pinkey! Scat? Wal, it did give me some thing of a jump, an’ that I won’t deny If Sile had a-bin there he’d kerwollopsed I riz right up with a noar in my hand, reddy to slam it over ther head uf any ~ pinkey, Jest then I heard that sound | agin’, an’ I made out it come from the point of rocks that makes off inter ther: harber. I looked that WAY an’ jest then onto riz sai’ up from behind some rocks——’? up from behind the roks??? “Tf you'll wait till I tell the story, mebbe you’ll find out.’ ‘“Humph!~ Go ahead with yer yarn.’ ‘Kz I said, up jumped this critter. H oe was all burnin’? i ake spot and hi ‘ an’ bets hands shone fiery same as his face. Then he let out a screech t might have been heard down to th 1 Spoon Islands, an?’ Sie he wees: Ip, . Ove: os ¢ ee teat that nobody else could see. dreamed that he saw the demon of Devil Island.” “Tt waren’t no dream,’’ fiercely de- _ clared the hunchback. FRANK MERRIWELL’S MYSERY. 9 the rocks and inter the woods. Say, I ain’t easy skeered, but I will admit I was a bit shakey then. I jest got inter the pinkey, pulled up ther anchor, then tum- - bled back inter ther dory an’ took ther old pinkey in tow. I wasn’t very long gittin’ out of Bold Island harbor neether. I wouldn’t a-stayed there that night fer a hundred billion dollars! I towed the pinkey clean to the Landin’, an’ you don’t git me round Devil Island ag’in atter dark, by huck!”’ CHAPTER IV. ANOTHER YARN. ‘‘What do you think of that yarn, Browning?’’ asked Frank, speaking softly into the big fellow’s ear. “Huah!? grunted Bruce. ‘I think Sile was all right in calling Jeb a liar.”’ ‘fT have heard that these fishermen are remarkable at drawing the long bow.”’ And Jeb is an artist.”’ Some of those who had listened to the fisherman’s story did not accept it with such scorn as the lobster-catcher had evinced. There was a sound of excited voices when Jeb had finished, and one young fellow with a hunchback anda cunning face jumped up, crying: “Tt ain’t no lie, an’ I’ll swan ter that! I’ve seen ther old critter on Devil Island myself, though I ain’t bin tellin’ much about it, fer I knowed every dern critter on Deer Island would call me a thun- derin’ liar.’ : ‘There, by huck!’’ cried Jeb. ‘‘Now whut do you think of that? You hear whut Put Wiley has to say!’ ‘‘Oh, yes, we hear it,’’ -drawled Sile, who was calmly filling a black pipe. ‘But Put alwus was seein’ queer things I s’pose he ““T saw the critter — when I was on the island—more’n that, the varmint chased me..’’ *‘Hey ?’’ cried several, the excitement increasing. “*P]1 swan to stanchly. ‘‘When did all this take place ?’’ asked one of the listeners. ‘‘Last Sunday.”’ “And we never heard of it before? Say, Put, I never knowed you to tell any- thing crooked, but it’s a big yarn you’re givin’ us now. If all this happened last Sunday, why ain’t you told of it afore ?’’ ‘‘In the fust place, ’cause I was darn scat. In the second place, ’cause I knowed everybody’d think I was. lyin’.”’ ‘“How did you happen to be down there on Devil Island Sunday ?”’ ‘‘Tast time Jerry Peg was in Bold Is- land harbor he said he saw a partridge fly up on the shore of Devil Island. He went ashore an’ tried to shoot her. He didn’t shoot her, but he said he scat up six or eight others in the thick woods. He come away without gittin’ one of them. Sun- day I didn’t have northing to do, so I loaded up my old gun and rowed over to Devil Island. Didn’t git there till three in the afternoon. Beached my dory aun’ hitched the painter to a tree. Wislit I hedn’t hitcher her arterward. Took out my old gun and went up inter ther spruces. ‘Tramped round to ther old stone quarry one way, but didn’t see northing. Turned and tramped clean round to t’other end of the island. Scat up two partridges and fired at °em both. Knocked down the second one. Then I chased. t’other, scarin’ him up and scarin’ hiin up, but never gittin’ him, though I fired at him twict. I was mad. Said I’d stay right there an’ hunt that dern partridge till ther Eastern Bay froze over but I’d git the thing. Arter a while I couldn’t fine him at all, but I kept prowlin’ round in tthe woods till it was beginnin’ to git dark. I heard somethin’ like a rustlin’ it!’ declared Put, 10 FRANK MERRIWELL'S MYSTERY. under some cedars and saw somethin’ move. Then I ups and fires. When I done that there was a yell that might have been heard clean down to ther Hosses. Out of them cedars came a critter that I swan was the old devil him own self! He had horns, an’ he had a fiery face and hands,, an’ he had black holes fer eyes, jest as Jeb told it, and he had a red-hot spear of iron in his hand. He run at me to stick that spear inter me. I know he was goin’ to speak me and then kerry me down. be- low fer shootin’ partrrdges Sunday. He waren’t more’n six feet of me when I poked out my old gun an’ ond barrel right inter his face and eyes. It never bothered him a bit. Run? Why, I flew! Never kivered ground so fast before, an’ I never ’spect to ag’in. I bet sometimes I jumped as much as fifteen feet to a léap.”’ The speaker too out a dirty handker- chief and mopped the big drops of per- spiration off his face. He was shaking with excitement, and his eyes gleamed. He showed every symptom of extreme terror as he related the story, and it seemed plain enough that he believed every word he was uttering. ‘“Go on!’’ cried several. ‘‘T don’t know how I ever got away,”’ said the hunchback, huskily. ‘‘I do know that monster was chasin’ ne right through the woods, tryin’ to ram his spear inter ‘my back as if I was a flounder an’ he was arter lobster bait. I managed to hold onter my old gun, though at the time I didn’t know I was a-doin’ of it. If I hed stopped ter think, I’d throwed the gun erway. When I came out ter ther bank nigh ter whar my dory was hitched, I made a jump that took me clean from ther top to ther bottom. It seems as if right when I was in ther air I thought _how that bo’t was tied with her painter, an’ I hammed my hand inter my pocket fer my knife. When I got ter ther boat I a flung ther — had the knife in my hand. 4 - _ A cut the painter. fired the sec- sailed down where I ha¢ saw him do it, and I know he arter me, an’ he jumped. {| spread out some red things like wings. I don’t say they was wings, but they lookeé I yanked open iny knife and The tide was in, and afloat, which was a like wings. the dory was thing fer me, for when I jumped in e her a shove that sent her away from = I got ther oars inter ther water sa The critter didn’t chase me the edge of the gave the shore. and pulled. any arter it reached \ water." Again the excited speaker wiped: h face with the soiled handkerchief, a1 then he sat down in a chair, as if t remembrance of the adventure had tak all the strength out of him. He wa shaking all over. | ~ Frank Merriwell and Bruce a looked at each other. | ‘*How is that for a vivid imagination | ? erunted the big fellow. : ‘‘Tt’s pretty good, but he seems to b lieve it himself,’’ said Frank.. “He does act that way,’ confessed Bruce. — “T am getting interested,”’ declari Frank, ‘‘When I get a chance, I shall visit Devil Island.”’ “Where is it ?”’ ‘‘Not far from here, if I remember ‘right.”? ing "sited ™> sot the me yar ‘ma 1 “but these fishermen are such confounde liars that you can’t tell.”’ Those who had been listening to story were urging the. hunchback to~ some more. After a little time, he sto] ; wiping his face and said: / ACTHat’s alt: The critter turned and disappeared, while I nigh pulled arms out gittin’ away. Anybody wants to ‘can go nosin’ round FRANK MERRIWELL’S MYSTERY. ’ ll Island, but Put Wiley will keep away. Next time the critter’d git me sure.”’ ‘‘Now, whut do ye think of that, Sile cer F I’in a liar, Iain’t ther only one on Deer Collins?’’ cried Jeb, triumphantly. : ’ a/ Island.”’ “Hwmph!’? grunted Sile. “Let a yarn like this git started an’ half the folks that go near Devil Island will see this ere crit- ter. Some foiks is great at seein’ such things.’’ But his appearance of ridicule did not disguise the fact that he had been im- pressed by the story of the hunchback. “Devil Island alwus hes bin haunted,”’ declared one of the Seats whiy it’s deserted ter-day. The quarry listeners. ain’t worked out, but the big boardin’ house stands empty on the island, the house ain’t occupied ——”’ “Sence that woman from” Rockland lived in it,’’? broke in another. “She didn’t live there long. she saw things on the island that made her reddy to git off.”’ I guess ‘‘Oueer freak for a woman to live there all alone anyhow,’’ “We used to see her round the house or on the observed Jeb. shore when we run down past the island, but all to once she was gone.”’ * “Sence then,’’? putin aiman who had not spoken before, ‘‘I’ve seen lights in the winders of the old boardin’ house at night and in the winders of the other house, though I’ve never ketched a glimp of a livin’ critter movin’ on the island by day.’’ ‘Oh, it’s haunted,” nodded the one who had declared so before. ‘‘Anybody “what wauts to can go foolin’ round there, ~ but I’m goin’ to keep away.’ ‘i He rose to his feet. He was tall and thin, with a broken nose that seemed to tell the story of some fierce fight at an island dance. His starboard ‘eye. was crooked, so. that it was difficult to tell | just which way he was looking. He took in a fresh chew of tobacco and slouched out of the hotel. ‘““T his is a place to see odd characters,"’ said Merriwell. Browning nodded. to the mained, and, for some time, there was an discussion about the creature In the midst of it the hunchback left the room. have a talk with that fel- said Frank. They listened men who re- animated on Devil Island. “T want to ’ low,’ *“Come on.”? They tollowed the hunchback outside. CHAPTER -V. GIVEN FAIR WARNING. ‘‘Wait a minute, if you please,’’ called Frank, hurrying after the hunchback. The fellow paused and turned round. ‘“What do ye want?’ he asked. His voice was harsh and unpleasant, and there was a suspicious look in his eyes. ‘‘T heard your story about the creature yot_saw on Devil Island,’? said Frank. “Wal, what of it?’’ ‘*My yacht lays out there in the harbor, and I ain thinking of taking her and ru- ning down to Devil Island. I have a great desire to get a look at the monster. You spoke about Bold Island harbor, and Iwwant to find out just how to get in there and how near I can anchor to Devil Island.’’ , va The light in the eyes of the hunchback seemed to shift in a queer way as he stared at Frank. Browning had come up and was watchfig the fellow closely. “Vou keep away from Devil Island!”’ snatled Put Wiley, as the de- called. ‘‘You strike there, almost formed fellow had been don’t know what you’ll and——’’ “11] take my chances on that. All] want of you is to tell me the best place to lay while I am down there. I want the / 12 FRANK MERRIWELL'S MYSTERY. White Wings in a good harbor if a storm should come up.’’ ‘Wal, I don’t tell it. All I’ve got ter say is keep away.’’ Then, despite Frank’s effort to say something more to the Siar he hurried - away. ‘Well, that’s a really ‘olly chap!’ ob- served Browning. ‘All of that,’? laughed Frank. ‘*He didn’t seem to like your appear- ance, Merry.’ ‘*Well, I can’t say that I admired his appearance. ’’ ‘*VYou will have to seek your inforima- tion elsewhere.’’ “Tt wasn’t so much that I wanted to find out about Bold Island harbor. I wanted to get him talking. ‘Thought I tnight be able to trip him up if I gota good chance to ask him questions. ”’ “But he wouldn’t talk.”’ ‘*He seemed suspicious. ’’ ' They watched the hunchback go into astore. Just before passing through the door, which stood open, he turned his head and looked back. ‘“Wanted to see if we were following © him,’’ smiled Frank. They walked about the village, finally returning to the hotel. As they ap- proached the hotel, Inza and Paula came out and asked to be shown around the ; village. , For an hour the four strolled about. From the yacht in the harbor Diamond ‘saw them occasionally, and the Virgin- | jan’s heart was throbbing with anger. He felt that» he could kill Bruce Brown- ing without a qualm of congeience. > Finally the party returned to the hotel, but, before leaving the girls, Frank i invited them to be ready for a short cruise on the yacht the following morn- ing, and they had promised to do so. | As the boys approached the wharf be- side which their boat floated, a man came toward them and spoke to them. He was ye notthing about ‘make me want to go the man with the crooked eye and broken | Nase S27 hss Se, ‘‘T hear you chaps are thinkin’ of in’ down to Devil Island??? to look at Frank while the “Ts that right?” answered he said, eye seeming other looked at Bruce.. ‘‘We may go. down there,’’ Frank. ““When ?” ‘“’To-morrow.”? ‘*Better not.’ “Why ?)? ‘It’s dangerous. ’ ‘“How ??? ‘‘You heard the yarns about the critter on the island, and you ought to know why. > ; 5 ‘“Those yarns are the very things that down there,’’ de-— clared Frank. haan The cock-gyed man looked surprised. _ ‘You don’t want to be ketched by the monster, do ye?’’ ‘*No, but we’d like to catch the ster,’’? laughed Frank. ‘*You can’t do that. mon- The critter ain’t If he ain’t the devil hisself, he’ S human. one of the devil’s imps.”’ “Well, we’d like to catch a genuine © imp. If we could capture a real imp and | take him to Boston or New York, we could get-a royal good figure for htm from the manager of some dime museum. Freaks and curiosities are in great de-' mand, and they are very scarce.” , The cock-eyed man seemed astonished and disgusted. | “Why, you dern fools !”” he cgcleneite ‘Vou don’t ’magine you kin ketch a reals imp, do ye?” é Ys ‘‘We can give him a good iiitle, 2 @ po -swered Merry, with apparent seriousness. ee have to be lively if he ge away.’ ‘ve hearn tell of how you city as didn’t know much, but I did s’pose you knowed more’n that!” cried the man, one = FRANK MERRIWELL’S MYSTERY. 13 Devil Island and try to chase the critter there. You'll disappear, an’ you'll never be heard of ag’in.”’ ‘We'll take our chances.”’ **Say, I want ter tell you something. We don’t say much about it ’round here, but ev’ ry body There was a man kem here this spring from Boston. He heard about Devil Island being haunted, and he was jest darn fool most knows it. enough to waut to go down there and see the He He lobster-ketchers to set him him. spook. went. got some ] z ashore and wait for They wouldn’t go ashore with him, but they stayed in the boat reddy to take him on when he got reddy to leave. He never left!’’ ‘‘What happened to him ?”? “Who knows? arter he went ashore there was.the awfullest screech of agony come from on the givin’ a death yell. *Bout half-a-nour soinewhere island. Seemed jest like a man It scat them lolster- ketchers so they rowed off a piece, but they waited till dark. ‘Then they rowed off, and nothing of that air man has ever bin seen sence.’’ “Didn’t anybody go down to the island to see if they could find him? A tree may have fallen on him, or something of that sort.” “There was six He never come. men went down from here two days arterward, an’ whut do you _s’pose they found.”? “The man from Boston.”’ “Did’t I tell ye he hadn’t never been ‘seen sence! They found a new made gravel’ ‘What was in the grave ?”’ ‘They didn’t wait to see, but they saw whut was at the head of the grave.”’ “What was that?’ “A new granite headstone.”’ Wes??? . “