Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-04-23
SYNOPSIS

he recognizes as the Beacon, his ia
ther's yacht before his death and finan-
A man whom he hears a girl who ac
companies him address as Mr.. Blake,
lands from the yacht. The girl drops
her handbag in the stream, and Dick
RECEIVERS it, Thanking him, she gives
him her visiting card. She is Alice
Cutler, niece of Stephen Cutler, sue
cessful business rival OF the elder Van
Ness.
CHAPTER II.-Dick overhears a con-
versation between Blake and Captain
Brent Of the Pelican which gives him
the impression that the yacht Is bound
on a voyage of adventure to an island
the name of which he does not hear.
With one finger pressed on it for
fear of losing it, Dick got his knife out
of his pocket and opened the smallest
blade. Inserting the point of this in
the crack he pressed it hard against
something that gave forth soft tink-
ling, metallic sound.
The effect of his manipulatiOns
would have startled Captain Brent had
he appeared then, but to Dick it was
no more than he expected. The mar
row panel before him slid slowly to
one side, revealing an opening in the
wall about the size of small state,
room.
The secret compartment in the wall
had been designed by the architects of
the yacht to satisfy whimsical fancy
of Dicks father. 1t had been used as
a storage place for special papers and
securities that the elder Van Ness
often carried away with him on long
cruises. 1t was never designed for
human occupancy, and when Dick
glanced in it he felt chill of doubt.
The dust of years had accumulated
over the floor, showing that it had not
been used by the present owner of the
yacht. Dick had guessed right that
the secret Of it had not been passed
on with the sale of the craft, and no
one, in reftting the interior, had
stumbled upon the spring that opened
the panel.
1t was just about wide enough and
long enough for a man to stretch him
self and move about without humping
his elbows or soaring his shins. 1t
was high enough for the tallest man,
with an open register above through
which the air of the cabin escaped.
The presence of this register of iron
grillwOrk, instead of exciting sus-
piciOn, allayed the curiosity of any
one inquisitive enough to want to
thump the walls to see if there was a
hollow space behind.
Approaching footsteps on the deck
brought Dick out of his reverie of in
decision. With a shudder he wiped
away the worst of the dust and
stepped inside. He hesitated again be-
fore closing the panel. Then Captain
Brent's booming voice aroused him.
where's that young fellow with the
packageY' he called angrily.
Dick touched the spring and watched
the panel slide noiselessly in position.
Vat the same moment the cabin door
opened with bang and Brent stamped
inside.
Search the yacht % he commanded.
IF you find him bring him to me. I'll
teach him to snoop around. No, not
in here! He's not in the cabin.
Search below decks !"
Nevertheless, he made a careful ex-
animation of every possible hiding
place in the cabin. Dick, holding his
breath, heard him tramping around,
opening and closing doors and lockers,
and even humping the soft cushions.
Once he stopped in front of the reg
lister, and remained quiet for so long
that Dick feared he had discovered
some clue.
The spring had been a little rusty,
and possibly it had not closed com
pletely. The presence Of a little dirt
or rust near the crack might excite
Brent's suspicion. Dick drew a sigh
Of relief when the man finally moved
away, and after another tour of the
cabin walked outside on deck.
It's an even chance, cap, that I'll
60, with you on this little trip" he
unused, grinning to himself. Anyway,
you'll have a hard time finding me-"
A little light entered the cOmpart-
ment through the register, and as the
air from the cabin escaped through
this the suction created kept his mar
row quarters fairly well ventilated.
II won't smother" he reasoned,
looking up. "Plenty of air." He
glanced at his package and smiled
again. Grub and drinks enough for
a week"
Unconsciously, he drew forth
cigarette and started to light it, but
checked himself. Smoking forbid
den" he said in rueful voice. "That's
:. - luck I" Then in a relieved voice,
he added, "At night when everybody's
asleep, l can light up. The ventilatOr
will carry away the smoke and odor."
After that he tried to make himself
as comfortable as possible in his mar
row quarters. 1t was some satisfac-
tion to know that he would be far
more comfortable than In the coal
bunkers. where he had first thought