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226 As far as he could make out, only a single sailor was on deck. Neither Captain Cosgrove nor the others were in sight.

"They have come ashore again," thought Franklin. "And the question is, where have they gone?"

Franklin watched the freight boat for some time and then turned his steps once more in the direction of the residence in which Mrs. Bliss was kept a prisoner.

"That Fipher will not dare to leave that new girl with Mrs. Bliss too long," he reasoned. "He will soon be coming back to learn if matters are all right."

As Franklin turned into the street upon which the house stood, he saw a close carriage driven along at good speed. The carriage stopped in front of the Fipher place and Fipher and Montague Smith alighted.

At once the young electrician sprang out of sight behind a tree. He saw Fipher lead the horse around to a stable in the rear of the house, and then he and his companion entered the mansion.

Burning with curiosity to learn the meaning of Montague Smith's second visit to the lady, Franklin resolved upon a bold movement. That was to enter the house by a side window, which he saw was open, and gain some position where he might hear and see what took place.