Chapter I: Preface: My Dear Boys

Most unexpected things happen to newspaper reporters. That is one reason why, in spite of the hard work attached to the profession, so many bright young lads like it. It was that way with Larry Dexter. It was the unexpected that he was always looking for, and nearly always he found it.

In this, the fifth book of “The Young Reporter Series,” I have related for you something that happened when Larry unexpectedly went to a concert. Before he knew it he was involved in a mystery that had to do with a stolen boy.

How he promised the stricken mother to find her son for her, how he picked up slender clews and followed them, how, seemingly beaten and baffled, he still kept to the trail--all this I have set down for you in this book as well as I knew how.

I hope it is not presuming too much to say that I trust you will like this volume as well as you have my other books. Larry is a character to be proud of, and I have tried to do him justice.

Yours sincerely,
HOWARD R. GARIS.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A FRIGHTENED SINGER 1

II. LARRY SCENTS A MYSTERY 12

III. A STOLEN BOY 19

IV. LARRY’S NEW ASSIGNMENT 27

V. SCOOPING THE “SCORCHER” 36

VI. A VISIT TO SEÑOR PARLOTI 43

VII. LARRY SEEKS CLEWS 52

VIII. A THREATENING LETTER 58

IX. A SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE 70

X. THE TORN NOTE 79

XI. LARRY MEETS A FARMER 85

XII. THE LONELY HOUSE 92

XIII. THE RAID 100

XIV. WHAT HAPPENED 107

XV. A NEW CLEW 116

XVI. OFF FOR THE WEST 122

XVII. ON THE LAKES 129

XVIII. THE DESERTED ROOM 137

XIX. CRUISING ABOUT 146

XX. CUT ADRIFT 156

XXI. IN THE GRIP OF THE STORM 162

XXII. ANOTHER ACCIDENT 169

XXIII. “MOTORBOAT AHOY!” 177

XXIV. THE CHASE 182

XXV. A HAPPY MOTHER--CONCLUSION 193

LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY