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  The Deserted Yacht

  By Ann Wirt

  The Madge Sterling Series

  The Missing Formula The Deserted Yacht The Secret of the Sundial

  THE GOLDSMITH PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO

  Copyright, 1932 The Goldsmith Publishing Company Made in U. S. A.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I A Strange Reception 11 II An Unwilling Boatman 18 III The Abandoned Yacht 24 IV Enid's Story 30 V A Puzzling Case 35 VI A Midnight Visitor 44 VII A Motor Boat Chase 51 VIII An Important Communication 58 IX A Jade Pin 65 X Uninvited Visitors 73 XI The Zudi Drum 81 XII An Unusual History 87 XIII A Clever Substitute 94 XIV A Call for Aid 103 XV Rescue 115

  THE DESERTED YACHT

  Chapter I A Strange Reception

  A young girl in a neat traveling suit of dark blue, alighted from thelast car of the long train which had pulled into the Cheltham Bay stationand with eager eyes surveyed the crowded platform.

  "Expectin' someone to meet you, Miss?" the colored porter inquiredpolitely.

  "Why, yes, I was," Madge Sterling returned, a perplexed frown puckeringher eyebrows. "Just set the suitcase down anywhere here. My friends willsurely come in a few minutes."

  With profuse thanks, the porter pocketed the coin she gave him and swungback into his car. Madge looked anxiously about. On all sides personswere hurrying up to greet friends who had arrived on the train, but noone appeared to be searching for her.

  "Strange Enid didn't meet me or at least send word," she thought. "I dohope I've made no mistake about the time."

  To make sure, she opened her purse and looked again at the letter whichshe very nearly knew by heart. She had made no error. Enid Burnett hadstated very clearly that she would be on hand when the ten-fifteen trainarrived.

  "It will be more convenient to meet you at Cheltham Bay than any otherplace," she had written in a bold scrawl. "From the station we'll godirectly to our yacht, The Flora which will be anchored in the harbor.Father will have everything in readiness for the trip, so the instant youset foot on deck, we'll sail. Here's to two glorious weeks on the water!"

  Madge folded the letter and laid it away. There was nothing to do butwait. Undoubtedly, Enid had only been delayed.

  She watched the heavy train move slowly from the station. The crowd onthe platform rapidly thinned and soon she alone remained. After a little,she picked up her suitcase and carried it to the waiting room, stationingherself near a window where she could see all automobiles driving in andout of the railway yard.

  "I can't imagine what is keeping Enid," she thought anxiously. "It looksas though I may be stranded here."

  It occurred to her that her friend might have dispatched the invitationupon the impulse of the moment, and then, in the rush of social affairswhich always engulfed her, forgotten about it. Enid was generous to afault but she was apt to be careless too. In school she had been known tomake rash promises which she promptly forgot.

  "If I've traveled all the way from Loon Lake, Canada, to participate in amythical yacht cruise, I'll never forgive her," Madge assured herself.

  Time dragged slowly. She made innumerable trips to the water fountain,she experimented with the gum machine and even tried to interest herselfin a magazine. At length, after more than an hour had passed, she aroseimpatiently.

  "I don't believe she's coming," she decided. "There's no sense in waitinghere forever."

  After a brief debate, she walked over to an information window.

  "I know this isn't in your line," she said apologetically to the youngman in charge, "but I'm trying to locate a party by the name of Burnett.You're not acquainted with anyone by that name?"

  "You don't mean Frank Burnett, the yachtsman?"

  Madge nodded eagerly.

  "I can't say I know him," the other informed, "but I did see by the paperthat his yacht had dropped anchor in the bay. It came in yesterday, Ibelieve."

  This information left Madge more puzzled than before. If The Flora hadarrived at Cheltham Bay, she could think of no reason for Enid's failureto meet her.

  "If you want to get out to the yacht, you likely can find some boatman atthe dock who will row you over," the clerk advised.

  Madge thanked him and turned away. She scarcely knew what to do. It wouldprove embarrassing to go alone to the Burnett yacht, and yet, surely theywere expecting her. After traveling so many miles it would be foolish toreturn home without making an attempt to see her friend. It was barelypossible that an accident had delayed Enid.

  "I may as well try to locate the yacht," she decided.

  She carried her suitcase outside and a taxi driver immediately came toher assistance. Directing him to take her to the wharf, she sank wearilyagainst the cushions, scarcely troubling herself to gaze at the talloffice buildings which whizzed by on either side as the cab rattled overthe rough pavement. A short drive carried her within sight of the bay andonly then did she lean forward in her seat to obtain a better view.

  The taxi halted near the wharf and the driver swung open the car door.Madge alighted and paid her fare.

  "Can you tell me which yacht is The Flora?" she inquired.

  "She lies yonder." The driver indicated a vessel anchored out somedistance in the bay.

  At sight of the trim little yacht with its gay flags fluttering in theoff shore breeze, Madge's spirits arose. It was good to be near the wateragain. And a two weeks' sailing trip would be such glorious fun!

  She looked about for someone to row her out to the yacht. The wharfappeared deserted, for the hour approached noon. After walking a shortdistance along the water front, her attention was attracted to a man whosat hunched over in a boat that was tied to the dock. His lunch wasspread out on the seat before him, but his real interest seemed to centerupon something out in the bay. Following his gaze, Madge saw that he wasintently watching The Flora.

  "He must have a boat to rent," she reasoned. "I'll see if I can bargainwith him."

  She approached closer and addressed him. Startled, the man turned sharplyand stared.

  Instantly, Madge regretted that she had spoken for the boatman was not atall to her liking. He was dressed in dirty white duck trousers and agrimy shirt, but it was his face rather than his clothing that repulsedher. She saw at once that he was of foreign extraction, though she couldnot have guessed his nationality. His complexion was extremely dark andhis straight black hair had not been cut in many weeks. His eyes boreinto her with disconcerting intensity.

  "I beg your pardon, do you have a boat to rent?" she questioned.

&
nbsp; He continued to stare until she thought he would never reply. Thentouching his cap, he muttered something, speaking with such an accentthat she could scarcely make it out.

  "Three dolla' an hour," he added indifferently.

  "I didn't want to buy the boat," Madge smiled. "Perhaps I failed tounderstand correctly. You said--"

  "Three dolla' an hour," he repeated, scowling darkly.

  "Why, that's unreasonable. At my Uncle George's fishing lodge in Canadawe rent out boats for all day at less than that."

  The boatman shrugged indifferently and Madge thought for an instant thatan expression of relief actually crossed his face.

  "That my price," he insisted. "Maybe you find another boat."

  Madge looked up and down shore but there was no other boat to be had. Sherealized full well that she was being outrageously over-charged, but shewas eager to reach the Burnett yacht without delay.

  "I'll rent your boat," she decided. "It won't take more than half an hourto get where I'm going."

  "Three dolla' minimum charge," the boatman announced impressively.

  "Are you trying to discourage me?" Madge demanded suspiciously. "I don'tbelieve you're very anxious to rent your boat." Without giving him anopportunity to reply, she took a small roll of bills from her pocketbookand handed him three. "Here's your pay in advance."

  He accepted the money with obvious unwillingness and lifted her suitcaseinto the boat. She seated herself and he cast off the painter.

  "Take me to The Flora," she directed. "See, it's that yacht this side ofthe buoy."

  Madge was unprepared for the effect her words produced upon the man. Heturned quickly, his eyes smoldering. An expression she could not fathom,flashed over his face.

  "I not take you there!" he uttered vehemently, thrusting the three billsrudely toward her. "Here, take your money! You mus' get another boat!"