"Who is he?" asked Mr. Hastings, while Tom started on a run toward
the boat.
"I don't know. Some man who bid on the boat at the auction, but
who didn't go high enough," answered the lad. As he neared the
craft the man sprang out, ran along the lakeshore for a short
distance and then disappeared amid the bushes which bordered the
estate of Mr. Hastings. Tom hurriedly entered the ARROW.
"Did he do any damage?" asked Mr. Hastings.
"I guess he didn't have time," responded Tom. "But he was
tampering with the lock on the door of the forward compartment.
What's in there?"
"Nothing but the gasoline tank. I keep the bulkhead sliding door
locked on general principles. I can't imagine what the fellow
would want to open it for. There's nothing of value in there.
Perhaps he isn't right in his head. Was he a tramp?"
"No, he was well dressed but he seemed very nervous during the
auction, as if he was disappointed not to have secured the boat.
Yet what could he want in that compartment? Have you the key to
the lock, Mr. Hastings?"
"Yes, it belongs to you now, Mr. Swift," and the former owner
handed it to Tom, who quickly unlocked the compartment. He slid
back the door and peered within, but all he saw was the big
galvanized tank.
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