ered. "I'd have won by
a good many yards if it hadn't been for that."

Some of the Central Grammar boys nearby were impolite enough to
laugh incredulously.

"Oh, I've dropped my handbag into the river!" exclaimed one woman
to another suddenly, at the end of the pier.

The other woman turned, giving a quick, startled glance toward
the water.

"I---I don't know how it happened," gasped the loser. "There
it is, away down the stream, floating toward that boathouse.
Oh, Master Prescott, do you feel able to go and get it for me?"

"I'll do it with pleasure, madam," Dick nodded. He looked for
a moment. Then, seeing a black floating object, he started after
it, his stroke apparently none the weaker after his swift race.

It had floated nearly under the boathouse at the water end. The
building in question belonged to the estate next to that from
which the swimming contests had been conducted. This boathouse
was closed, for the owners had not yet come to Gridley for the
summer. The windows of the little green building were shuttered
from the inside. Over the water the walls came down to within
six inches of the present level of water.

Keeping his eyes turned toward the black, floating object, Dick
swam easily to the spot. The black object floated under the open
sidewall into the boathouse. Just as Dick got there he dived,
duck fashion, head first, and passed to the interior of the boathouse
at the river end.

As he came up inside Dick's first discovery was that of artificial
light in the boathouse. Then his gaze rested on the platform
end over the land.

"Amos Garwood here, of all places!" gasped the astonished Grammar
School boy.

Chapter XXIV

CONCLUSION

The mentally queer inventor had rigged up a bench just under shelves
on which rested tools and boat supplies.

Just at the moment the inventor had his back turned to the water
as he stood working at his bench. Dick was able to look at him
while not in immediate danger of being seen himself.

How quietly the Grammar School boy trod water! He hardly dared
breathe, for fear of giving an alarm.

Yet, even in all his astonishment, Prescott did not forget to
let one hand close over the handle of the black bag whose recovery
had brought him here.

"I can't do anything with Garwood alone," reflected Dick swiftly.
"I must get out, if I can, without making a noise, and then give
the hurry alarm. That fellow is mixing something, and, if he
isn't stopped