Page:The Eight-Oared Victors.djvu/140

128 give us a good crew for the eight in the Fall, I'm sure."

"The only drawback about Crest Island," said Phil, "is that Bossy is going there. He'll be an unmitigated nuisance, if I'm any judge of human nature."

"Especially if he does as he says he will, and takes to practicing in a single," added Tom.

"But the island is big enough," added Sid.

"Even if the cottage his folks have taken is near the Tylers'," put in Frank, with a grin.

"Is it?" asked Sid, eagerly.

"It sure is."

"Then he'd better look out!" declared Sid.

"What's the matter? Afraid he'll take your girl?" asked Tom, with a laugh. But Sid did not reply.

Nothing more had been discovered about the missing jewelry, nor had Tom and his chums been able to follow the clues which they had stumbled upon. The torn handkerchief, the empty jewelry box, the shreds of silk, had been put away, together with Boswell's card. Mendez, the Mexican, had been seen around Haddonfield several times since Tom and Ruth had met him on the island, and he seemed to be selling his wares, there being little need of his remaining on the island as caretaker all day. Whenever he met