The Castle on Deadman's Island Read Free Page A

They clammed up when I went by, but I got a good look at them and I know I’ve seen them before.”
    â€œYou have? Where?”
    â€œNot sure. I remember their pictures from somewhere. The newspaper, maybe.” Neil stared at the darkening sky, trying to concentrate. “Something to do with a will …”
    â€œNot Major Tripe’s will?”
    â€œYeah, that’s it!”
    Graham slapped his forehead. “The major’s will! Then it must be Grimsby and Snyder over there.”
    Neil wondered who they were and why Graham suddenly looked so concerned.
    â€œYou know, Major Tripe’s castle was left to three people to share,” Graham said. “It was in the paper.”
    â€œI guess I saw it, but I wasn’t that interested. What’s it got to do with some guy trying to run you down?” Neil stopped suddenly.
“Uh-oh,
look out. Here they come.”
    Busy talking, neither he nor Graham had noticed the two men get up from their bench and come towards them. It was too late to flee.
    â€œDon’t let them see you,” Neil hissed. But there was no place to hide. Graham turned and pretended to be watching the waves.
    One of the men stopped and stared at Graham’s back. He said something to the other and nodded in Graham’s direction. For a moment both men looked hard at him, then they walked on, their faces set.

FIVE
_
    â€œSo now will you tell me what this is all about?” Neil said. They were in his room, just back from their encounter on the waterfront. “Why are those guys out to get you?”
    â€œIn a nutshell,” Graham said, “it’s about money. And a man with a strange sense of humor who left his castle in the Thousand Islands to three people to share – three people who hate each other. One of the three is Jake Grimsby –”
    â€œThe guy with the gray fedora?”
    â€œRight. The other is Carson Snyder –”
    â€œThe one who looks like a prosperous businessman?”
    â€œRight again.”
    â€œBut if they hate each other, why were they together?”
    â€œThat’s what I’m worried about. Judging from what was in that note, they could be joining forces to get rid of the third person they’re supposed to share the castle with.”
    â€œAnd who is that?”
    â€œMy aunt, Henrietta Stone. Aunt Etta, I call her.”
    â€œYour aunt! Then you’d better warn her.”
    Graham stood looking out the window at the rain slanting against the streetlight. “I would if I could.”
    â€œWhat d’you mean?”
    â€œI mean Aunt Etta isn’t here to warn. She told my mother that Grimsby and Snyder were both busy in town, so this was her chance to spend two weeks at the castle on her own. She’s there now.”
    â€œThen phone her.”
    â€œThere’s no phone line to the island. Apparently the major didn’t intend to be bothered by phone calls from people wanting to drop in.”
    Isolated in a castle on an island, Neil could picture all sorts of grim things happening to Graham’s aunt. But then he was always told he had an overactive imagination. “Where exactly is this castle?”
    â€œOn Deadman’s Island.”
    â€œDeadman’s! Isn’t that the one that’s supposed to be cursed?”
    â€œOh, that,” Graham said. “It’s just some superstition the locals have. The major didn’t pay any attention to it when he bought the place, though I must admit he died there of a mysterious illness.”
    â€œI still think you should warn your aunt,” Neil said. “Go there, if you can’t phone. I’ll come with you if you want.”
    â€œEasier said than done. We’d need a boat. Besides, Aunt Etta’s a very independent person and she likes her privacy.”
    â€œTell your folks, then. Maybe your dad would drive us downriver and help us find a boat.”
    Graham shook his head.