Page:Moving Picture Boys on the Coast.djvu/75

Rh "But what is it all about? Is Mr. Duncan—is he—dead?"

The old man hesitated, and, for a moment, Blake thought that his guess was correct. Then the aged man said slowly:

"No, my boy, he isn't dead; but maybe, for the sake of his son, he had better be. At any rate, it's better, all around, that he's away from here."

"Why?" asked Blake quickly. "Tell me what you mean!"

"That I will, lad, and maybe you can figure a way out of the puzzle. I'm an old man, and not as smart as I was, so my brain doesn't work quickly. Maybe you can find a way out. Come inside where we can talk so he won't hear us," and he nodded toward the quiet figure of Joe on the beach.

Blake wondered more than ever what the disclosure might be. He followed the aged man into the living quarters of the house attached to the light tower.

"Sit ye there, lad," went on Mr. Stanton, "and I'll tell you all about it. Maybe you can find a way out."

He paused, as if to gather his thoughts, and then resumed:

"You see I'm pretty old, and I have to have an assistant at this light. I expect soon I'll have