William Arden: The Secret Of Phantom Lake

The boys ran up to the “ghost.” Outside in the light, he was just a man dressed in black western clothes. Jupiter picked up the thin journal where Java Jim had dropped it.

“You boys shouldn’t be in here,” the “ghost” said. “You better tell me what this is all about, and give me that book if it belongs to this town.”

“It doesn’t, sir,” Jupiter said. “We’re sorry we climbed the fence, but we didn’t know anyone was here, and we had to investigate.” He explained that they were trying to discover Angus Gunn’s business in Powder Gulch. “You certainly scared us with your tricks!”

The “ghost” grinned. “I decided to practise our special effects on you. I’m the caretaker here.” He rubbed his jaw. “Angus Gunn, eh — Maybe I can help. I’ve got all the old records in my office. If your Angus Gunn did anything here, I’ll find it.”

They went through the saloon into a small office. The caretaker opened a filing cabinet. “All the names in the old records have been indexed and cross-referenced, boys. Part of the work of the restoration. Let’s see what we have for Gunn.”

He read a file and shook his head. “Just two references. The purchase you saw in the general store, and a two-line notice in the Gulch newspaper for 1872 offering a short job for miners. That’s all.”

“A dead end,” Pete groaned. “We —”

They heard a voice yelling outside. “Boys!.. Cluny Gunn!.. You boys…!”

“It’s Rory!” Cluny said.

They hurried through the saloon. Rory McNab stood out in the street with the man Bob had talked to at the Historical Society — Professor Shay. The round-faced little professor hurried up to the boys.

“Boys! You gave us quite a turn! I bumped into Mr. McNab outside the gates. He told me you were supposed to be here, and then we found your bikes. We were afraid something had happened to —”

“Trespassing!” Rory snapped. “I knew ye’d get into trouble. That’s why I came after — to see ye didna’ hurt yersels!”

“No harm done, Mr. McNab,” the caretaker said. “Maybe Professor Shay would be interested in the boys’ comments on our special effects. The professor is our historical adviser, boys. The Society is helping with the restoration.”

“Yes, yes, but later!” Professor Shay said, his eyes bright behind his rimless glasses. He waved goodbye to the caretaker and steered the boys down the street. “What is this about a second Angus Gunn journal, boys? You found one? You think there could be a treasure? What a discovery. Historical! Tell me, quickly!”

Jupiter told about the second journal and Java Jim’s interest in it. Professor Shay’s round face turned purple.

“What?” he cried. “This… this person! Java Jim? He’s trying to steal the Gunns’ treasure? To use it for his own gain, sell it in bits, perhaps melt the gold? Monstrous! Why, it would be historically priceless! An East Indian pirate hoard intact! Our Society’s museum would be famous. But you found no clue here?”

“Well,” Jupiter said slowly, “we have learned that whatever Angus built for his wife was a big job.”

“Yes, I see, but not here,” Professor Shay said. “At Phantom Lake! I’m an expert on this area. Perhaps I can see what you boys can’t. Put your bikes in my car, and we’ll drive to Phantom Lake. It would be a crime to lose the treasure to that Java Jim!”

Rory sneered at Professor Shay, “Another fool you are!”

“What? And what do you know, McNab?” the professor said. “I think the boys may be right! Get your bikes, boys.”

The gates were open now. The boys put their bikes into the back of Professor Shay’s station wagon. Rory went off to his own car. Jupiter gave him a puzzled look.

By late afternoon, Professor Shay had led the boys over every foot of the small valley and up half the hills. They had looked down on Phantom Lake and its small island from every angle. The boys had trotted round the house after the excited little professor three times. And they found exactly nothing!

They gathered on the terrace of the big house in the late sun. Mrs. Gunn watched the boys and the professor with sympathy. Rory smoked his pipe with a sardonic smile.

“Nothing,” Professor Shay said in dejection. “Angus Gunn built nothing big except the house, and it’s been searched for years. And there’s no trace of that sluice timber.”

Rory laughed. “You’re all daft! If old Angus did build something of sluice timber, it’d be long gone now. And if any treasure ever existed, which it nae did, ye’ll no’ find it now.”

“We will!” Bob cried.

“Of course you will, boys,” Mrs. Gunn said, looking severely at Rory. “Perhaps the treasure won’t be a real treasure, but I’m sure you’ll find something.”

“Gee, Mum,” Cluny said, “you sound like you don’t believe there’s a treasure, either!”

Jupiter was rereading the letter of Angus Gunn. “If we just knew a little more. I’m convinced there’s a key, but it was all so long ago. What did old Angus love at home?”

Mrs. Gunn shook her head. “While you boys were at Powder Gulch, I took the time to reread most of Laura’s letters. She writes a lot of Angus’s love of the Gunn land in Scotland, of the magnificent view down the narrow loch, but that’s all. Nothing at all specific, Jupiter.”

“It does seem almost hopeless,” Professor Shay said.

“I admit it seems a most difficult problem,” Jupiter agreed with a long sigh.

Cluny cried, “You’re not going to give up, Jupiter?”

“Hunh!” Pete said. “You sure don’t know Jupe! He’s only getting started!”

“I wouldn’t blame you boys for giving up,” Mrs. Gunn said.

“I don’t think it’s time to give up yet,” said Jupiter. “Old Angus didn’t say where we’d find a clue, and we’ve taken only the first step. It’s time for the second step.”

He opened the thin journal. “The next entry that appears significant is for November 11, 1872. This day sailed to the island of the cypresses. Very nearly foundered in sou’wester and high sea due to load in boat. Squire of the island agreed to my proposal, and I returned home by noon well satisfied. Work on Laura’s present goes forward well. The next week or so is just his daily round at home.”

“Jupe! He says his boat was loaded,” Pete pointed out.

“Yes,” Jupiter nodded. “The island may be the answer.”

“But,” Cluny asked, “where is it? I’ve never heard of any island of cypresses round here.”

“Neither have I,” Jupiter admitted. “Pete?”

Pete, who was the yachtsman of the trio and knew the local waters well, took the journal. “I don’t think that’s its name. It might not have had a name then. All the big Channel Islands did, so this one is probably a small island just off the coast. It has to be near, because Angus got there and back in half a day. It sounds like it was owned by one family, and it must have had cypresses. I’ll look it up.”

“I’ll go, too,” Professor Shay exclaimed. “I own a sailing-boat, and we can take it — if the island isn’t too far from Rocky Beach.”

Rory stood up. “Phantoms, ghosts, islands without names, a man dead a hundred years! Ye’ve all gone crazy!”

The Scotsman stomped off the terrace as Mrs. Gunn shook her head and smiled.

“Don’t mind Rory too much,” she said. “He has a terrible temper and no use for impractical things, but he’s really a good man. We’ve had a difficult time since Cluny’s father passed away, and Rory made the last year much easier. I think he’s tired out from his trip.”

“Trip?” Jupiter asked sharply. “Rory’s been away, ma’am?”