Danny Orlis and the Point Barrow Mystery

By Bernard Palmer

Danny and his cousin Mike get caught up in a spy chase as they, the FBI, the RCMP, and Danny's father pursue an enemy agent from Minnesota to Point Barrow, Alaska. Will they be able to follow the trail through the lies, deceit and betrayal to expose the enemy agent? Will Danny be able to keep his testimony and spread the Gospel in the atmosphere created by deception?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sword of the Lord Foundation
• Release date: Jul 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310778124

Book preview

Danny Orlis and the Point Barrow Mystery

by

Bernard Palmer

Illustrated by Keith Neely

P. O. Box 1099 • Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37133

[phone] • [phone] • FAX [phone]

www.SwordoftheLord.com

Copyright 1955 by

The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago

Permission Given by Marge Palmer

Distributed by Smashwords

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (printed, written, photocopied, electronic, audio or otherwise) without prior written permission of the publisher.

All Scripture quotations are from the King James Bible.

This book is dedicated to the many young people who have found,

through the solution of Danny's problems,

the answers to their own.

—Bernard Palmer

Contents

Chapter 1—SECRET ORDERS

Chapter 2—A CURIOUS COUSIN

Chapter 3—CALLING ROBIN DALE

Chapter 4—WHAT'S GOING ON?

Chapter 5—TO THE RESCUE

Chapter 6—WHO'S OUT THERE?

Chapter 7—THE MYSTERY DEEPENS

Chapter 8—SUSPICIONS AROUSED

Chapter 9—GOING THROUGH CUSTOMS

Chapter 10—SUSPICIONS INCREASE

Chapter 11—NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

Chapter 12—THE PILOT DISAPPEARS

Chapter 13—LISTENING IN

Chapter 14—ANSWERING SOS!

Chapter 15—NO WRENCH—NO FIX!

Chapter 16—THE SPY CAUGHT

Illustrations

Can I trust you, Danny?

He stole out into the hall and down the stairs

Danny lifted his paddle and plunged it forward into the water

Do…do you suppose it’s—

That’s why Doc has been acting so strange up here

Where did you say you found the stuff?

Well, now, what have we here?

He led them out a narrow mechanic’s entrance

Do you mean we’ve got to stay in a dump like this?

Who’d be coming here at this time of night?

I think I’ve found the trouble

Let go of me! Let go of me!

Come on. Let’s get out of here!

You thought you were cute, didn’t you, Angashuk?

With a catlike spring, he struck savagely at the gun

Chapter 1

Secret Orders

The warm August sun had driven away the last flimsy wisps of fog and was poking its ruddy nose over the muskeg on the Northwest Angle when Danny and his dad finished cleaning out the boats and were gassing the motors.

That Doc Jessamine sure uses a lot of gasoline, Danny said as he put an extra five-gallon can in the prow of the boat.

I've noticed that, Carl Orlis said. Six or seven gallons a day—and he never says where he's been or what he's done. He came out on the end of the dock and for a moment or two stared across the bay. A stiff breeze from the northeast was whipping into the mouth of the creek, slapping waves against the heavy dock pilings. There are a good many things I don't understand about him, he went on, as if he were talking to himself. He just doesn't add up.

I don't know, Danny replied. He loosened the rope and turned the stranger's boat around so that it would be ready for him to go when he came out. I sort of like Doc Jessamine, myself. He isn't like the average tourist.

I like him too. Mr. Orlis squatted thoughtfully beside his son. But I can't figure him out, and it worries me.

What do you mean, Dad?

Well, for one thing, Carl Orlis continued, he says that he's out here doing research on the liver fluke that's hit our moose.

I know that, Danny broke in, but what does he mean? What's a liver fluke?

It's just a little worm, a parasite that sometimes gets into the livers of cattle, deer or moose. You wouldn't think they amount to much, but they can kill off a herd if they get a start.

Is that what the guys meant the other day when they got to talking about the way the moose were disappearing? Danny asked.

That's right, his dad said, and it makes sense that the government would take an interest in it. But I've never known him to kill a moose since he's been here, or even to shoot at one.

Come to think of it, I haven't either, the young woodsman replied. And I suppose he would have to have live specimens to examine.

Of course he would, Carl Orlis said. What's more, I've come across several diseased moose since he's been here, animals that I knew were sick and dying. But he wasn't even interested enough to go out after them.

The door to the guest cabin opened fifty yards or so down the creek. The tall, angular man stepped slowly out into the warm morning sunlight and looked around.

Danny lowered his voice. Maybe he's using that for a dodge. Maybe he's got another reason for being up here. He lowered his voice to a whisper: A secret reason!

That's what I've been thinking, Mr. Orlis went on, but the thing that has me more confused than ever happened yesterday afternoon. I found a cow moose that must have died a couple of hours before, so I thought it would give me a good chance to test Doc Jessamine.

Yes? Danny said excitedly.

I took him out there right after dinner and told him I wanted to see how he did his work, Danny's dad said softly. And, you know, he didn't hesitate at all. When he cut that cow moose up to get at the liver, 'performed an autopsy,' as he called it, he really did a professional job. I never saw anyone as skilled with a knife before. There's something wrong here, Danny. There isn't any pattern. It's got me worried.

Danny started to ask him something, but Dr. Jessamine came toward them just then.

Danny, Mr. Orlis cut in, keep your eyes open. I don't like this.

Good morning, Carl, Dr. Jessamine said pleasantly. How are you, Danny?

I'm fine, sir, the boy replied.

The scientist was a tall, thin-faced young man with protruding cheekbones and dark, searching eyes. His hair was cropped close, and it made him appear to be only a few years older than Danny.

I see you have my boat all ready to go. I meant to get out soon enough to tell you that I'd like to use a canoe for a few days. He turned to Carl Orlis. Could you outfit me with a light tent and some groceries?

I think so, but I don't have a light motor with a canoe bracket. You'll probably have to paddle. He looked significantly over to Danny. Unless you'd want to take Danny along to paddle for you.

For an instant Dr. Jessamine stared at Mr. Orlis searchingly. That won't be necessary, he snapped. I enjoy paddling.

In the awkward silence that followed, Danny started off the dock. I'll go and get the canoe, he said, and tell Mother to put up some food for you.

Fine, Danny, the stranger called to him, smiling. That'll be swell.

Mr. Orlis got the tent, which was kept for just such occasions, and the food his wife had hurriedly packed, while Danny went upstream to get the canoe, which one of their few neighbors had borrowed.

Where are you heading, Doc, and about how long do you expect to be gone? Mr. Orlis asked casually.

I have no concrete plans, the scientist answered. In my work I can't make definite plans that I can be reasonably sure of keeping. I'll be back when I've finished the particular piece of research I'm on.

Now listen, Carl Orlis told him firmly, I don't aim to pry, but you aren't back in New York City. This country is mighty big and mighty desolate, and we feel sort of responsible for our guests. I'd like to know where you're going and how long you plan to stay.

I thought I'd go up Shoal Lake way, Dr. Jessamine said reluctantly. And I'll probably be gone for at least a week.

Shoal Lake? Mr. Orlis retorted. But that's in Ontario, and your job calls for you to work in the States.

My job calls for me to work where I have to, Jessamine snapped.

Danny came back with the canoe just then and helped pack the tent and supplies. They had almost finished when Mrs. Orlis came to the front door and called them to breakfast.

You'd better come on in to breakfast, Doc, Carl Orlis said genially.

I don't know, he said. I should be on my way.

You'll have plenty of time to eat ham and beans out on the trail, Danny's dad laughed. You'd better come in and get one of Mary's breakfasts to start you out.

You might have something at that, the scientist replied good-naturedly. I'm not much of a cook.

They went into the house then and washed for breakfast.

Danny's cousin, Mike Ainsworth, who had come up from Toledo to visit them, had gotten out of bed by this time and came dragging downstairs. He was a thin, spindly fellow about Danny's age, with a handful of freckles scattered across the bridge of his nose and his cheeks sunburned and peeling.

Boy, he said sourly, you guys must get up in the middle of the night.

Middle of the night? Danny echoed. This is almost the middle of the morning. It's 7:00 We usually have breakfast at 5:30 or 6:00.

When you eat that early, Mike grumbled, pulling up a chair, you can count me out. I'm not getting up at that hour for any breakfast.

Dr. Jessamine looked over at Danny and winked solemnly.

When they had finished eating, Carl Orlis reached for the Bible on the stand behind him and opened it to the New Testament. Mike eyed him uneasily but said nothing.

Danny, his dad began, I was wondering if you would like to read for us this morning.

"Sure thing,