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diff --git a/old/52809-0.txt b/old/52809-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9d0ab90..0000000 --- a/old/52809-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7372 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Banner Boy Scouts Mystery, by George A. Warren - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Banner Boy Scouts Mystery - -Author: George A. Warren - -Release Date: August 15, 2016 [EBook #52809] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS MYSTERY *** - - - - -Produced by Giovanni Fini, Roger Frank and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: - -—Obvious print and punctuation errors were corrected. - - - - - BANNER BOY SCOUTS - MYSTERY - - - - - THE BANNER - BOY SCOUTS - MYSTERY - - _By_ - - GEORGE A. WARREN - - THE WORLD SYNDICATE - PUBLISHING COMPANY - CLEVELAND NEW YORK - - - - - _Published 1937 by - The World Syndicate Publishing Co._ - -[Illustration: LOGO] - - _Printed in the United States of America_ - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I LOST 9 - - II FIRE! 23 - - III PAUL LOOKS INTO THE MATTER 28 - - IV DETECTIVES 36 - - V A SUSPICIOUS INDIVIDUAL 44 - - VI THE SPY 53 - - VII THE ROBBERY 66 - - VIII ENCOUNTER 73 - - IX WHO IS MR. GREY? 81 - - X STUMPED! 90 - - XI A HUNCH 97 - - XII A BUMP ON THE HEAD 105 - - XIII DISCOVERY 113 - - XIV A NEW TURN OF EVENTS 122 - - XV FOLLOWING UP THEIR CLUES 131 - - XVI PAUL GETS INTO TROUBLE 138 - - XVII PARENTAL ADMONITIONS 149 - - XVIII FALSE ALARM! 156 - - XIX CAPTURED! 163 - - XX ESCAPE! 172 - - XXI CONVINCING THE POLICE 178 - - XXII MR. GREY 191 - - XXIII PAUL HELPS OUT 197 - - XXIV BATTLE 204 - - XXV INTO THE LAKE 210 - - XXVI TROUBLE AT HOME 218 - - XXVII MYSTERY OF THE WHITE CARD 229 - - XXVIII AGAIN THE WHITE CARD 237 - - XXIX MYSTERY SOLVED 243 - - - - -BANNER BOY SCOUTS MYSTERY - - - - -CHAPTER I - -LOST - - -“Ken! Ken Armstrong! Dinner is ready.” - -“I’m coming, Mother,” he called from his room upstairs. - -Hurriedly he finished brushing his hair and raced downstairs to the -dining room. His father was already at the table and waiting for the -children to take their places. Mrs. Armstrong in the meanwhile was -adding the finishing touches in setting the table. “Before you sit -down, Ken,” his mother told him, “will you please go out and call -Betty. She must be outside somewhere playing.” - -“Yes, Mother.” - -Ken obeyed and went outside to look for his younger sister, who was -five years old. It was a day in the latter part of August, warm, clear. -Stepping out on the porch, he called out, “Betty! Betty!” - -There was no answer. Ken looked in the yard, then in the garage where -she sometimes climbed into the back of the car and amused herself -playing with her doll. But she was not there either. Ken walked across -the street and rang the Smiths’ doorbell. Mrs. Smith herself answered -and Ken asked, “Is Betty here, Mrs. Smith?” - -She shook her head. “No,” she answered. “She was playing with my little -Helen until about an hour ago, when she left.” - -“Thank you,” Ken said and walked away. On the sidewalk, he paused to -think of all the places where she might be. Ken walked further down the -street and stopped at the Morrison home. Paul answered the doorbell. -“Hello, Ken,” he called. - -“Hello, Paul. Is Betty here playing with your little brother?” - -“Why, no, Ken. Pete has been at the park all day and has just returned.” - -“That’s strange,” muttered Ken. - -“What’s strange?” - -“I can’t seem to find her.” - -“Oh, you’ll find her,” Paul assured his friend. “She may be playing -with little Karliner across the street.” - -“That’s right. I didn’t think of it. Thanks, Paul.” - -“So long, Ken. Don’t forget the meeting tonight.” - -“I won’t,” Ken called back over his shoulder. He went across the street -to the Karliner home and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Karliner opened the -door. “Is Betty here?” he asked. - -“No,” answered the youthful woman. “Betty and Karl had a childish -quarrel this morning and they quit playing together.” - -“Until tomorrow,” remarked Ken, laughing. - -“Yes, no matter how much they quarrel the children always come together -again,” she said, also laughing. - -“And it is a good thing they do,” added the boy. - -“Yes. And in that respect, grown ups would do well to take after -children.” - -“You are right, Mrs. Karliner.” Ken edged away from the doorway. “You -will excuse me, but I have to find Betty.” - -The woman smiled and closed the door. Ken walked back toward his own -house. He was puzzled and couldn’t think where else his younger sister -might be. Usually she was somewhere in the neighborhood. If she wasn’t -in her own yard, she could always be found either at the Morrisons, -the Smiths or the Karliners. But today she wasn’t at any one of those -places. As he entered his own yard, Ken thought of one other place -where she might be. Around the corner was a small park where Mrs. -Armstrong very often took the child to play. Perhaps she had gone -there with some other child. Ken thought he better run over there in -a hurry before his mother became worried. However, there were only a -few children there because it was dinner time. And no Betty. He walked -through the playground twice. No sign of his sister. - -For the first time, Ken became anxious. Of course, she was not lost, -he thought to himself. But where could she be? Slowly he walked -home without coming to any definite opinion. Stepping onto the porch -noiselessly, he hesitated to enter the house. If he told his mother he -could not find Betty, she might become frightened. He conceived another -idea. Walking around to the side of the house, he peeked through the -window into the dining room. Seeing that his mother was not there, he -knocked on the window and motioned for his father to come outside. Mr. -Armstrong came out onto the porch. “What’s the trouble, Ken?” he asked. - -The boy tried hard not to look anxious. “Dad, I can’t seem to find -Betty,” he whispered. - -Mr. Armstrong was a tall, heavy set man. He tugged at his close cropped -mustache and muttered, “You can’t seem to find her, eh? Did you look -everywhere?” - -“I did.” - -“At the Morrisons?” - -“Yes. I was also at the Smiths, the Karliners and at the park, Dad. She -was not at any one of those places.” - -“Hmm!” mused Mr. Armstrong. “She must be somewhere around, Ken. Let us -first search the yard thoroughly.” - -Together they looked over the yard and then the garage. But the child -was not there. Finally they stopped their search. “You say that you -were to the park, at the Morrisons, the Smiths, the Karliners?” asked -Mr. Armstrong. - -“Yes, Dad.” - -“Can you think of anywhere else she might be? Do you know of any other -child she occasionally plays with?” - -Just then Mrs. Armstrong came out onto the porch and called, “Ken, -John, what are you doing out here when you are supposed to be at the -dinner table? And where is Betty?” - -Mr. Armstrong walked slowly over to his wife and said, “Now, Edna, -don’t you become upset. It seems that Betty is nowhere where she -usually plays. Do you know of any other child she sometimes plays with -and with whom she might be now?” - -Mrs. Armstrong became very pale. “Were you to the Karliners, Ken?” she -queried anxiously. - -“Yes, mother.” - -“Now don’t you become alarmed, Edna. The child is somewhere around. But -she may have walked off alone somewhere or she might be playing at some -house.” - -“Were you to the Johnsons?” Mrs. Armstrong asked. Ken shook his head. -“Then run over and see. And if she is not there, stop in at the -McKinlys.” - -Ken was off at a run. The Johnson home was at the end of the street. -Junior himself opened the door and Ken bent down to question the -child. “Is Betty here?” he asked. - -The little boy shook his head and muttered, “Nah.” Mrs. Johnson came to -the door and he asked her the same question. “Why, no,” she replied. -“She never comes. I would like very much for her to come and play with -Junior, but she never does. I guess it is a little too far away for -her.” - -Ken was anxious to be off. “Yes, I guess so,” he answered. “Excuse me.” -And he was off. - -The McKinly home was across the street. But she was not there either. -Ken walked away deeply concerned. Returning home he found his parents -awaiting him, their faces drawn and worried. At the news that the -child was neither at the Johnsons nor the McKinlys, Mrs. Armstrong -clenched her fingers. Her husband stood up. “She must have walked off -somewhere,” he said. “I’ll notify the police and have them search for -her.” - -“Wait a minute, Dad,” cried Ken. “Perhaps she is in her room.” - -Without losing a second, he dashed up the stairs. A minute later he -was coming down slowly. By the expression on his face the parents -could tell that she was not in her room. Mr. Armstrong walked to the -foyer where the telephone was and they could hear him calling the -police and giving a detailed description of the child. She was five -years old, blonde hair and blue eyes, weighed between forty-five and -fifty pounds and was about twenty-six or twenty-seven inches tall. His -task completed, he returned to the dining room. He put an arm around -his wife’s shoulder and said, “Now, don’t worry, Edna. The child most -likely has walked off by herself and she will be found. You will have -her again in half an hour.” - -Ken jumped out of his chair and dashed out of the house. He ran over -to the Morrison home and called Paul. Drawing his friend aside, he -whispered, “Paul, call the troop together. We cannot find Betty and we -have to make a search for her.” - -“That’s too bad,” replied Paul. “I’m sure no harm has come to her and -we will find her.” - -The two boys walked off to call the boys together. Some of the Boy -Scouts lived in the immediate neighborhood while the others were -reached by telephone. Practically every one of them knew Betty by -sight, but just to make sure a description of her was passed around. -Within ten minutes the entire Stanhope Troop No. 1 was out on the -streets and searching for the child. In the meanwhile the police had -also sent out an alarm and were combing the town to find Betty. The -news had spread and many townspeople had joined in the search. - -For the next half hour every nook and corner of the town was ransacked. -Many a little girl was stopped and asked if her name was Betty -Armstrong. But always it was a shake of the head and the word no. -Suddenly the news spread that the search was off and that the child was -safely home. Ken, who was with Paul, sprinted home. The two boys burst -into the house and found Betty sitting very calmly at the table having -her dinner. Quite innocently she shook a finger a her big brother and -scolded him. “You’re late,” she told him. “Mama is angry if you come -late for dinner.” - -The two boys, hot and out of breath as they were, couldn’t resist -laughing at the innocent humor of the child. “Where were you?” Ken -demanded. - -Just then Mr. Armstrong came in. Seeing his missing child at the -table, he sighed with relief. Mrs. Armstrong came in from the kitchen -and said, “You men better have your dinner right away, before it gets -spoiled.” - -Paul moved away, saying, “I will wait for you upstairs, Ken, in your -room.” - -“Jack is also upstairs,” mentioned Mrs. Armstrong. “He found the child -and brought her home.” - -Paul walked upstairs while Mr. Armstrong turned to his wife and asked, -“Where did he find her?” - -“On Leonard Street.” - -“So far away!” exclaimed Ken. “Leonard Street is at the edge of the -town.” - -“Yes.” - -“What was she doing there?” asked Mr. Armstrong. - -“Who knows?” his wife exclaimed. - -Ken turned to his younger sister. “What were you doing so far away from -home?” he demanded. - -“Don’t bother the child now,” asserted his mother. “Let us eat now. You -can ask her all the questions you want later or tomorrow.” - -“Yes, Mother.” - -The family settled down to their meal and for the present tried to -forget the anxiety and worry the child had caused them. - -As soon as he could get away from the table, Ken did so and raced -upstairs. Dashing into his room, he called out, “Hello, Jack.” - -“Hello, Ken. I hear Betty gave you a bad scare.” - -“And how!” added Paul. “The only ones we did not have searching for her -were the marines, and only because there are none in Stanhope.” - -“Yes, that is just what I want to ask you about, Jack. How did you come -to find her?” asked Ken. - -“I was out that way visiting Bud Menninger. You know him, don’t you, -Ken?” - -“Yes, he is the fellow who wants to join our troop, isn’t he?” - -“That’s right,” answered Jack. “Well, I was riding home on my bicycle -when I happened to notice Betty walking along, all by herself. I was -so surprised, I wouldn’t believe my eyes at first. I couldn’t imagine -what she would be doing so far away from home. At any rate, I jumped -off my bike and approached her and then I saw that it was really her. -She was sucking a large peppermint stick.” - -“Sucking a peppermint stick!” exclaimed Ken. “Who gave it to her?” - -“That is just the point. I asked her and she replied that a man gave it -to her.” - -“A man!—” - -Paul interrupted. “Don’t interrupt, Ken,” he said. “Listen to the rest -of the story. It is mighty interesting.” - -“All right, I won’t interrupt. Go on.” - -“Well, I questioned her a little more,” continued Jack, “and she told -me that she was walking home from the Smiths when a man stopped her and -asked if she wanted some candy. Like a child, she couldn’t refuse. So -he took her by the hand and he bought her that peppermint stick she was -sucking.” - -“Then what?” Ken asked eagerly. - -“From further questioning, it seems that after he bought her the candy, -they just kept on walking. I looked her over closely and saw that she -was not all frightened or hurt in any way. So it seems that the man who -took her walking, did not harm her in the least.” - -“But how come he left her at the edge of the town all by herself. A -man must be crazy to do a thing like that.” - -“Now that is a clue,” spoke up Paul. “An ordinary man would not do a -thing like that.” - -“Clue!” exclaimed Ken, surprised. “What sort of clue? What are you -talking about?” - -“Let me finish,” urged Jack. “As I was talking to her, I noticed -that she kept one hand behind her back. I asked her why and she just -shrugged her shoulders. I looked and I saw that she was clutching a -card in her little fist. I asked where she got it and she told me that -the man gave it to her before he left her. I asked her to give it to me -and she did. Here it is.” - -Jack held up the white card, three inches by two inches. The boys -huddled together, examining it. “Why, it is just a plain, blank, white -card!” exclaimed Ken. - -“That’s right. But what is the meaning of it?” asked Jack. - -There was no answer. The three boys were mystified. The whole story -sounded very odd and the card made it all the more perplexing. “From -all the evidence at hand,” remarked Paul, “I am convinced that there -must be something wrong with the man who walked off with the child.” - -“But that’s just it,” exploded Ken. “If there is something wrong with -the man, he must be found out and put away into an asylum. He can’t be -permitted to roam the streets and walk away with children.” - -“And if Paul’s suggestions are correct,” added Jack, “God knows what -other tricks he might be up to and what damage he may be doing.” - -“Now let’s think this out calmly and logically,” said Paul. “First did -you ask Betty to describe the man?” - -“I did,” replied Jack. “But all she would say was that he was tall and -very kind to her.” - -“There are many tall men in town. That is no clue,” said Ken. - -Paul rose. “We certainly have to look into the matter and see what we -can do.” - -“What can we do?” asked Ken. “As far as I know there are no crazy -people in Stanhope and only a lunatic would do a thing like that.” - -“We have about an hour before the meeting,” suggested Jack. “Suppose we -go down to Leonard Street and look around.” - -Just then Mr. Armstrong came in. “Hello, Jack,” he greeted. - -“Hello, Mr. Armstrong.” - -He saw that the boys seemed to be on the verge of leaving and he said, -“I hope I am not keeping you boys from going on your way.” - -“Well, we were preparing to leave, but—” that from Ken. - -“I merely want to ask Jack about his finding Betty.” - -Jack repeated his story, leaving out the part about the white card. For -a while there was silence. Mr. Armstrong mused. Finally he said, “It -must have been some man who knows the family and bought her some candy.” - -“But why should he leave her at the end of the town to walk back -alone,” demanded Ken. - -Mr. Armstrong shrugged his shoulders wearily. “I can’t understand that -myself,” he said. “But the fact remains that the child was not harmed. -Which leads us to the conclusion that the man must have been a friend.” - -The boys had no desire to argue with the older man and so they left it -at that. In the street, Ken asked, “Why did you leave out that part -about the white card, Jack?” - -“I didn’t think it mattered,” was the answer. “I figured that if I told -him about it, he would give it over to the police, and then it would -get into the newspapers and then everybody would know about it. And the -guilty man, even if he is crazy, would know better than to do anything -to give himself away. As it is, nobody knows, except the three of us, -and by a little quiet work we may track the culprit down.” - -“I think you did right,” spoke up Paul. - -“That is to be seen,” added Ken skeptically. - -The boys walked down to Leonard Street and Jack pointed out the exact -spot where he came upon Betty. The neighborhood was one occupied -mostly by the poorer people of the town. Of course, there was -nothing to be found in the way of clues. They walked all around the -neighborhood and noticed the various shacks and empty lots but did not -come across any man that was tall and kindly looking. At last they -decided to give up the search and go to a meeting of their boy scout -troop, the Red Fox Patrol. - -All the other boys—Nuthin’, The Carberry twins, William and Wallace, -Bobolink, Bluff—were already there when the three arrived. Pressed for -information, Jack for the third time re-told his story. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -FIRE! - - -Several days passed and although the boys had not forgotten the -incident, they did nothing to look for the culprit. The only evidence -they had was the white card and the information that the man was tall. - -It was about five-thirty and the boys were coming from the baseball -field. Paul and William, walking ahead, turned into Water Street, and -the rest of the boys followed them. At about the middle of the street, -they suddenly heard the weird cry, “Fire! Help! Fire!” - -The boys stopped in their tracks and looked around to find where the -cry was coming from. Paul began to run and the boys followed him. They -came upon a two story frame house. Dense clouds of smoke came billowing -out of the doorway. Paul turned to the one nearest him, who happened to -be William, and ordered, “Call the Fire Department! Hurry!” - -William set off at a run. Paul, followed by the other boys, ran to -the back of the house. He cried, “A couple of you try to find buckets -and water. The others stick around and form a water brigade until the -firemen come.” - -Pushing open the back door, he dashed into the house. He noticed that -the smoke was dense at the front door. Just as he turned to run up the -stairs, tongues of flames shot out of the smoke. The thought came to -him that the fire had started at the front door. But how? Why? At the -front door, of all places. - -He raced upstairs and threw open the first door that he came upon. No -one there. He dashed for the next room. An old man and woman, in their -late seventies, if not older, were rushing back and forth, picking up -things and dropping them. They were so bewildered, they did not know -what to do. As Paul dashed in, they rushed at him and clung to his -arms. They were absolutely speechless; they did nothing but tremble. -Paul shook them off and rushed to the window, threw it open and cried -to the boys below, “Get a ladder! Get a ladder!” - -He looked for the firemen but they had not yet arrived. Every second -seemed to him an hour. He saw the boys scatter in a frantic search for -a ladder. The five minutes that elapsed to procure a ladder seemed like -an age. At last Bobolink came running up with a ladder and he placed it -under the window. But it was too short, and Paul cried, “Get something -to stand it on. A box. Anything.” - -Bobolink scurried to find something upon which to stand the ladder. A -minute later he returned with a soap box. The ladder was stood on the -box and several of the boys supported it. Paul helped the old woman -through the window onto the ladder. “One of you boys climb up and help -her down.” - -He saw the boys hesitate. Evidently they thought that the ladder would -not hold. In the meanwhile, the woman, trembling and bewildered, almost -fell from the ladder. Bluff raced up and directed the woman’s legs, -rung by rung. The old woman at last descended and collapsed in Ken’s -arms. Paul turned to the old man. “Is there anybody else in the house?” -he asked briskly. - -The old man nodded his head vigorously. “Downstairs,” his trembling -lips mumbled. “A baby in a crib.” - -“Which room?” - -The old man’s teeth chattered so violently that he could not speak. -Again Paul demanded to know which room the child was in but the old -man could not talk. He almost hurled the man through the window as he -helped him to gain a footing on the ladder. Without waiting another -instant, Paul dashed out of the room and down the stairs which by now -were crackling with flames. The last couple of steps were so badly -burned that he had to jump. He scurried about wildly and at last found -what he was searching for—a pail of water. Dipping his handkerchief -into it, he clasped the wet rag over his mouth and nostrils. Layers -of heavy smoke whirled all about him. He walked along the wall and -listened carefully. An infant’s wailing came to his ears and he -searched frantically for the door. Finding it at last, he threw it -open and stepped in quickly. He brought in with him a dense cloud of -smoke. He moved blindly about the room, directed only by the cries of -the infant. He stumbled against the crib and clasped the child to him. -Smoke entered his lungs and he began to cough. He felt choked and was -sure he was going to collapse before he managed to get out. He heard -a shattering crash. Someone had broken the window and he ran to it. -He felt someone take the child from him and direct him to the broken -window. Someone lifted him almost bodily through the window and the -next moment he fainted. - -About fifteen or twenty minutes after the alarm had been sent in, the -Volunteer Fire Brigade came clanging down the street. Immediately they -pulled out the hose and set to work. Captain Bob was there. It was -he who had helped Paul through the window. About a minute after Paul -had been taken out of the house, there was a terrible shattering and -crackling. From all sides of the house streaks of flame spurted forth, -until the whole building was enveloped in a sheet of flame. - -Paul came to and opened his eyes to find his father bending over him. -“Are you all right, fellow?” Dr. Morrison asked. - -Paul sat up and blinked his eyes. He nodded. “I’m all right, Dad. What -are you doing here?” - -“Just happened to come along.” - -His father helped him to his feet and he found the boys crowding -around him. “How do you feel?” asked William. - -Paul nodded. Ken remarked, “Some fire eater you are.” - -He smiled and turned to watch the firemen fighting the blazing -structure. “What happened to the old couple?” he asked. - -“They are all right,” answered Nuthin’. “They wouldn’t have been, -though, if it hadn’t been for you.” - -Bobolink added, “The child would surely have perished if not for you, -Paul.” - -Just then a policeman came and pushed them all back. Some moments -later the front door fell in with a shattering thud. The firemen -poured gallons of water into the blaze but it did not seem to help. -The fire ate through the wooden house and ten minutes later one of -the walls collapsed. A groan rose up from the watching crowd and some -turned their heads away. As the wall collapsed tongues of flame and -dense smoke came shooting out. Some of the firemen retreated and then -returned to continue their struggle with the blaze. - -Another wall caved in and eventually the roof of the house came -crashing down. Captain Bob realized that further effort was futile -and he ordered his firemen to just stand around and let the fire burn -itself out. Soon the house was a heap of ashes and smoldering pieces of -wood. The firemen left and the crowd dispersed. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -PAUL LOOKS INTO THE MATTER - - -Jack was sitting on the Morrison porch. It was about eight o’clock in -the evening of the same day. Ken came walking up through the yard. -“Hello, Ken.” - -“Hello, Jack. What are you doing here?” - -“Waiting for Paul.” - -Ken came onto the porch and sat down beside his friend. “Did Paul call -you too?” he asked. - -“That’s right. He told me over the telephone that he had something -important to talk over.” - -“He told me the same thing. I wonder what it is.” - -“Perhaps it is something about the fire.” - -“Well, let’s not guess, but wait for Paul to tell us instead.” - -Several minutes later, Paul came out. “Hello, fellows,” he called. - -“Hello, Paul.” - -“Hello, Paul. What is it you have to tell us?” asked Jack. - -“Let’s go where we will have some privacy,” answered Paul. - -Paul led them into the garage and the three boys piled into the back of -the car. “Now,” said Ken, “you can tell us without anyone overhearing -us. Don’t keep us in suspense any longer or we will collapse of -curiosity.” - -“First tell us how you feel,” spoke up Jack. “Any after effects from -the smoke?” - -“I feel perfectly all right,” was the answer. “Now, this is what I want -to talk to you about.” - -“Yes, what is it all about?”—that from Ken. - -“Jack,” began Paul, “do you still have that white card? You know the -one I mean.” - -“Of course. I still have it, certainly. What about it?” - -“Will you show it to me?” - -Jack began to look through his pockets. Finally he confessed, “I guess -I don’t have it with me. I must have left it home, in my other coat -pocket.” - -“What about the card?” asked Ken. - -“Only this,” replied Paul gravely. And he showed them the card. “Is it -the same card?” he asked. - -Jack examined it very closely. “To me it appears as though it is the -very self-same card. How did you get it?” - -“Now listen closely,” whispered Paul. The other two boys leaned over. -“I rushed down the burning stairs to find the room in which the child -was. Well, I was groping along the wall with my hands because I -couldn’t see a thing. I came upon the door and I moved my hand up and -down trying to find the knob when I came upon something sticking in the -doorway. Without thinking any further, I grabbed it and shoved it into -my pocket.” Paul paused to add emphasis to his forthcoming statement. -“And that thing was this card,” he concluded. - -The boys gasped. “This card!” exclaimed Jack. - -“Are you sure?” asked Ken. - -“Absolutely positive,” asserted Paul. - -“But how did it get there?” - -“That is something I don’t know and which I would very much like to -know.” - -For about a minute the boys sat there in silence, overcome with -amazement. Jack jumped out of the car. “Come on, fellows,” he called. - -“Where to?” asked Paul. - -“To my house. I want to find that card.” - -Jack was so excited, he had difficulty in restraining himself from -running. The other boys kept up with him, walking briskly. At the -Stormways home, Jack rushed up the steps of the porch. “You wait here,” -he called over his shoulder to his companions. - -Two minutes later he came rushing out of the doorway. “Here it is,” he -cried, waving the white card. - -The two cards were compared; they were identical in every respect. -“This is getting to be serious,” whispered Ken. - -“Terribly serious,” added Ken. “We must do something about it. The man -must be absolutely crazy.” - -“Crazy is not the word,” said Paul. “Dangerous is more fitting. If he -is permitted to roam the streets without being stopped, only God knows -what damage he will do and what crimes he may commit.” - -“But what can we do?” Jack questioned anxiously. “Our suspicions are -only a hunch. These cards may only be an accident.” - -“No,” said Paul, shaking his head. “My opinion is that this is no -accident but the work of a distorted mind.” - -The boys sat down on the porch. At a loss as to the meaning of it all, -they remained silent. Paul whispered, “I’ll tell you what we can do, -though.” - -“What?” - -“Let’s go over and see Captain Bob.” - -“What for?” queried Ken. - -“I want to ask his opinion on the origin of the fire.” - -“Well, that won’t hurt any,” remarked Jack. - -The three boys set off. Captain Bob himself opened the door for them -and led them into the living room. Turning to Paul, the Captain said, -“You are the boy that dashed into the burning building this afternoon, -aren’t you?” - -“Yes, but it was really nothing.” - -Captain Bob sat himself down and pointed the boys to seats. “Well,” he -drawled, “you are a modest boy. But if it hadn’t been for you, the old -folks and the child would have burned to cinders.” - -“If I had not entered, one of the other boys would have,” he answered. -“We were the first on the scene, you know.” - -“Yes, so I understand. But what is it I can do for you boys?” - -Paul leaned forward in his chair. “Captain Bob,” he said, “we came over -to ask you your opinion on the origin of the fire.” - -“Just what do you want to know?” - -Paul hesitated, not knowing exactly how to put his question. He -said, “What I want to know, Captain, is whether you think the fire -was—er,—an accident, or whether you think someone started the fire.” - -“You are asking very serious questions,” replied Captain, knitting his -brows. - -“Yes, I know, but I am very much interested and—” - -“May I ask why you should be interested?” asked the old man shrewdly. - -“It’s only because,—er,—when I dashed into the building, I noticed -something very odd about the fire.” - -“Just what do you mean?” - -“Well, as we ran up to the house, we noticed smoke pouring out of the -front door. I dashed inside by the back door and then I saw that most -of the smoke and fire seemed to be at the threshold of the front door. -Now that is very odd.” - -“Yes, you are quite right, my boy,” answered Captain Bob. “As a matter -of fact, the front door caved in first. However, I came to the fire a -little too late to really judge the cause or origin of the fire. But it -did seem to me that there was something odd about the whole thing.” - -“Was there anything about the fire that would lead you to believe that -it was an accident or perhaps—er,—otherwise?” asked Paul, pressing -his point. - -Captain Bob scratched his chin thoughtfully and said, “My dear boy, you -are asking some very serious questions that may get you into trouble.” - -Paul insisted. “Just the same, would you form an opinion?” - -“No, I really couldn’t because, as I said before, I came to the fire -too late. I had no chance to look into the cause of the fire and now -that the house is a heap of ashes, the chances of finding any clue is -very slight. Suppose you tell me your opinion, my boy.” - -“To be quite frank, Captain, I think that the fire was started by some -pyromaniac.” - -The Captain sat up in his chair. “What makes you think so?” he demanded -suddenly. - -Paul hesitated. He did not want to give himself away. “Just a hunch,” -he replied. - -Captain Bob sank back into his chair. For what seemed a very long -time there was absolute silence. The Captain seemed to be musing over -something and the boys had nothing more to say. Paul rose and his -friends did likewise. “Thank you, Captain Bob,” said Paul. “I guess we -will be going now.” - -Escorting them to the door, the Captain said, “Don’t thank me. I am -glad you came.” He hesitated. “And,—er,—don’t you go around talking -about a pyromaniac, my boy. It may get you into trouble.” - -“I won’t, Captain,” promised Paul. - -“Goodnight, boys.” - -“Goodnight, Captain Bob.” - -The boys walked along for some few steps in silence. Ken spoke up. -“That talk with the captain didn’t help much, did it, Paul?” - -“No, very little. But I have now become more convinced than ever that -the fire was the work of a mentally distorted person.” - -“You count me in on that,” added Jack. “I certainly agree with you. But -what can we do about it, that is the problem.” - -“Doesn’t seem as if we can do anything for the present,” muttered Ken. - -“Guess you’re right,” answered Paul thoughtfully. A moment later he -added, “Tomorrow let us try and obtain a better description of the man -from your sister, Betty, Ken. If she can tell us a few things on how he -looks and the sort of clothes he wears, that would help a lot.” - -“It certainly would,” agreed Ken. “We will try it tomorrow.” - -“Yes. In the meanwhile there is nothing else we can do tonight. So I am -for going home,” announced Paul. - -“Same here.” - -“Me too.” - -The boys separated and went home. The following morning, they met again -at Ken’s home. Taking Betty out into the yard, the boys tried to get -some information from her about the man who had taken her for a walk -and then deserted her at the end of the town. But the child had already -forgotten him entirely and their efforts were in vain. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -DETECTIVES - - -That afternoon, William went to the Stanhope Free Public Library to -return a book. Walking in back of the room in search of a good novel, -he came upon Paul hunched over a stack of newspapers. “What are you up -to now, Paul?” he asked in a whisper. - -“Tell you later.” - -“A mystery, huh?” William joked. - -Paul smiled and waved his friend away. “Leave me alone now,” he said, -“I’ll tell you all about it later.” - -“Very well.” - -William walked away and Paul returned to his stack of newspapers. -He spent almost three hours going through the papers of the past -two months. Tired, he decided to stop there. Besides, he was quite -satisfied with the information he had obtained. He left the library and -walked home. On the way he stopped to call for Ken but did not find -him in. Crossing the street to his own home he found Jack, Ken and -William on the porch waiting for him. “Well, what is the secret?” cried -William. “Tell us.” - -Paul motioned to the boys to follow him and he led them to the garage -where they would be assured of privacy. The boys found boxes on which -to sit and they gathered around Paul. “Well, what is it?” asked Jack. - -“I have spent about three hours in the library this afternoon,” Paul -informed them “and—” - -“William told us that already,” interrupted Ken. - -“I have been going through the newspapers for the past weeks,” -continued Paul. - -“What for?” asked Jack. - -“I was looking up the fire reports. In the past two months there have -been four fires, one each two weeks or so.” - -“What about it?” Jack wanted to know. - -“Can’t you fellows see for yourselves?” asked Paul, irritated by their -indifference. “Don’t you think that in a small town such as this, a -fire every two weeks is very much above the average?” - -“Say,” cried Ken, “you have hit upon something. Come to think of it, -that is a pretty high average.” - -“But what has that to do with the story?” asked Jack. - -“Simply this,” answered Paul. “Under normal conditions, there would not -be such frequent fires. In other words, all the fires of the past two -months may or may not have been caused accidentally.” - -“You don’t think yesterday’s fire was an accident?” questioned William. - -“No,” was Paul’s categorical answer. - -William raised his eyebrows in surprise. He was not acquainted with -the facts of the case as the other boys were. “What therefore is the -conclusion?” asked Jack. - -“It is evident,” returned Paul. “For the past two months at least one -fire, or more has been started by a maniac.” - -“This thing is becoming worse and worse,” commented Ken. - -“Yes,” Paul said gravely, “the situation is very serious and it is up -to us to do something.” - -“Why is it up to us?” asked William. But just as soon as the words were -out of his mouth, he knew the answer. - -“Because,” was Paul’s answer, “we are the only ones who seem to be -acquainted with the situation and our suspicions are quite definite.” - -“Don’t you think it might be wise to acquaint the police with our -suspicions?” inquired Ken. - -“I am against doing anything of the sort,” stated Jack. “If we do that, -there will be a public scandal. It will be in every newspaper in town -and the culprit, whoever he is, will become wary. As it is, we may come -upon him by surprise.” - -“I agree absolutely,” commented Paul. - -“What is our job going to be?” asked William, eager to do something as -soon as possible. - -“For the present there is only one thing we can do,” said Paul. “We -will talk the whole matter over with the boys of the patrol. We are -all pretty close friends and we can act as a group. The thing we have -to insist upon is secrecy on the part of all the boys and to be always -on guard.” - -“That alone is not enough,” added William. “I suggest that we also have -the boys patrolling the streets, so that in case of anything, they will -be Johnny-on-the-spot.” - -“That is something we will have to discuss with the rest of the boys,” -asserted Paul. “In the meanwhile, suppose we notify the fellows to come -to a meeting tonight after supper. Do you think it is all right?” - -“Yes, I think that is a very good idea,” commented William. The other -boys agreed and it was decided to meet in Ken’s garage. - -That evening at about seven, the boys began to congregate in Ken’s -garage. They came by one’s and two’s. Fifteen minutes later they were -all there except Jack. The boys were curious as to the reason for the -meeting and they wanted to start without waiting for the missing member -but Paul refused. He suggested that someone run over to call Jack. -Bluff volunteered. They waited about five minutes and the messenger -returned saying that Jack was not home. Paul remarked, “I wonder where -he could have gone?” - -Nuthin’ said, “He will most likely be here any minute. In the meanwhile -let’s get going.” - -“Yes, let’s do that,” echoed Wallace. - -Urged on by the other boys, Paul finally consented and the meeting -was called to order. Paul then outlined the situation for them, told -them the pros and cons of the problem and in conclusion said, “There -is one more thing I want to tell you. In going through the newspaper -files for information on the fire reports, I noticed that there seemed -to be about two weeks difference between fires. In other words, since -the last fire was yesterday, we have about two weeks in which to act. -The thing for us to do now is not to talk about it to anyone outside -of this group and to be always on guard. If we don’t track this maniac -down, God knows what damage he is liable to do.” - -For a short while there was silence. Nuthin’ grinned and remarked, -“What you want us to do, Paul, is for us to become detectives.” - -Nuthin’ meant it as a joke but Paul took it seriously. “That is just -what I want you to do,” he asserted gravely. “We must all become -detectives and find this man.” - -“But the information we have is so slight. We really have no clues to -work on,” protested Bobolink. - -“That is very true,” replied Paul, “but we must do the best we can.” - -A little later, the meeting was officially adjourned, but no boy -ventured to leave. Their curiosity was aroused by Jack’s not coming to -the meeting and they waited around. Paul felt anxious, though he had -no reason to be. To Ken, who was sitting beside him, he whispered, “I -wonder what happened to Jack!” - -Ken shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t imagine. He promised to be here. -And he is not home either.” - -“That’s just it,” countered Paul. “The fact that he is not home implied -that he was on the way over here. But something must have happened on -the way to keep him from coming to the meeting.” - -“We can go over and see if he is home now.” - -“That is a good idea. Let’s go.” - -Ken and Paul rose and the other boys did likewise. In a group they -walked over to Jack’s house. Ken went in while all the others remained -outside. A minute later he emerged and motioned that the missing boy -was not home. The boys were disappointed and a few of them became -worried. Bobolink commented, “This is becoming serious. We ought to -look for him.” - -Paul turned the idea down. “You fellows better go home,” he said, “and -don’t worry. Jack has a right to go wherever he pleases and if he did -not show up at the meeting, there must be a good reason for it.” - -“But where could he have gone,” Nuthin’ asked anxiously. “After all, -something may have happened to him.” - -Paul, though he was anxious himself, made believe that there was -nothing to worry about and laughed at the suggestion that something -might have happened to Jack. “Most likely he went to see someone or -something like that,” he remarked casually. “Nothing serious could have -happened to him.” - -“Besides, he is the sort of fellow who can take care of himself,” added -Ken. - -“And what’s more,” argued Paul again, “we don’t know where to look for -him. And if we spread an alarm, his folks will become worried and that -is something we certainly don’t want.” - -“No, I guess you are right, Paul,” agreed Nuthin’. - -Several of the other boys nodded and showed willingness to agree with -Paul’s idea that they all go home. They walked along as a group until -one by one the boys fell out to go home. Finally only Paul and Ken were -left. The two boys walked side by side and Paul seemed exceedingly -quiet and preoccupied with his thoughts. Ken hesitated to break in upon -his friend, but finally he asked, “What are you so quiet and thoughtful -about?” - -“I wasn’t really thinking of anything,” the other replied. - -“We may as well go home, like the others,” suggested Ken. - -“No, let’s not do that. Suppose we walk down Main Street a bit. To tell -you the truth, I am a bit worried about Jack.” - -“Worrying won’t help any,” Ken wisely remarked. - -The boys walked down Main Street and then retraced their steps. At -Paul’s house, they silently sat down on the steps of the porch and -remained like that, neither one uttering a sound. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -A SUSPICIOUS INDIVIDUAL - - -Now let us see what really happened to Jack. He left his home with the -intention of going to the meeting. As he walked along, deeply occupied -with his thoughts, he suddenly became conscious of a certain individual -that had just passed. Jack turned on his heel and stared at the -retreating back of the individual. The man was tall and thin—gaunt; -he wore a cap and a jacket and pants that hung like sacks upon him. -Jack tried to think what it was about the individual that attracted -his attention and he concluded that it was something wild about his -appearance, about his bearing. He began to follow the man, sorry that -he did not get a good look at the man’s face. - -Jack went over the situation in his mind. He wanted to go to the -meeting and if he did not come, the boys might feel badly. On the -other hand, there was something very suspicious about the person he -was following. The man appeared to be very excited, or anxious; he -seemed to be very much on the alert, turning his head this way and that -way, as though searching for something. Jack felt sorry that he could -not get a good look at the man’s face. Perhaps he could do it now, he -thought, by walking ahead then walking back toward him; or possibly -by hiding in some doorway and obtaining a close view of him as the man -passed. But on second consideration, he thought it better not to do -that. The man might get a good look at him and remember his face, which -would put him at a disadvantage. - -Jack decided merely to follow and see what would happen. Twice the -man turned around and looked back; Jack decided to cross over to the -other side of the street. His heart pounded and he became nervous -and excited. He followed, keeping his eyes glued to the back of the -suspicious character. The man kept shifting his head in all directions, -staring at people, at houses, at everything; his eyes seemed to bore -right into things. - -The man turned into John Street, usually a deserted street with only -several old houses on it. Jack quickly removed the light sweater he -was wearing and formed it into a small package under his arm. If the -man had noticed him, the fact that he now appeared in a white shirt, -carrying a package under his arm, would make the man think him a -different person. The man continued walking rapidly with Jack hot -on his trail. The street was very poorly lit and Jack was forced to -shorten the distance between the man and himself, though he still -kept to the wrong side of the street. Coming to a lonely house set -on a large plot, the man suddenly dashed behind the wall. Jack felt -his excitement increase. He was only sorry that Paul or one of the -boys were not with him; not that he felt afraid but for the sake of -companionship. He had a weird, creepy feeling to be following a man on -a deserted, dark street. - -Jack kept on walking as though nothing happened. He made believe that -he didn’t see anything unusual. His head square on his shoulders, he -kept a careful watch out of the corner of his eye. He saw a large rock -on the lot he was passing and immediately he threw himself behind it. -Looking from the side of his shelter, he watched the house across the -street. Possibly five minutes passed and nothing happened. To him it -seemed like hours. At last the man he had been following showed himself -at the corner of the house. Warily, the man stuck his head out and -looked in all directions. In spite of the distance between them, the -man’s wild appearance, his ghostly form outlined in the dark, made Jack -shiver; a cold chill ran down his spine. - -At last the man came forth and walked away in the direction from which -he had come. Waiting until he thought it was safe for him to follow, -Jack then rose and sprinted forward until he was within about five -yards of his man, who no longer shifted his head back and forth wildly -but, instead kept looking straight ahead of him. Jack was glad of that -because it made it easier following. - -At Main Street, the man turned right. Jack followed and became more -convinced that his suspicions were well founded. Beyond any doubt there -was either something wrong with the man or else he was a fugitive of -some sort, trying to get away. The man turned into Water Street and -Jack felt a cold chill break out. Instantly it flashed upon him that -the suspicious fire of the previous day had occurred on Water Street. -Was the man returning to the place of his crime? Or was he on his way -to perpetrate another crime, perhaps set flames to another house in the -same neighborhood? - -His head turned straight ahead of him, the man walked on briskly. Jack -followed. Closer and closer they came to the house that had burned -down. When they were within about ten yards of it, the man suddenly -stopped in his tracks and very slowly turned around. In the nick of -time, Jack dashed into a shadow and was out of sight. The man hesitated -and then very slowly approached the heap of ashes and sticks of wood -that were once a house. Jack hid himself, watching him closely, -wondering what he was up to. Seeing the man approach the heap of ashes, -Jack’s emotions got so strong that he could barely control himself. -“Easy!” he mumbled to himself. “Take it easy now!” - -He flattened himself out on the ground and watched his man who sat down -on the bare earth as though in grief. The man’s shoulders heaved and -soon Jack heard sobs of genuine sorrow. Jack could not help feeling -sorry for the poor chap. He wondered what was wrong with him, that -might have caused him to set fire to the house. For by now, Jack was no -longer in any doubt as to the man’s guilt. - -For some time the man sat there, hunched over, his body trembling and -sobbing bitterly. At last he got on his knees and crept forward to the -heap of ashes. Picking up a handful, he let the dust slide through his -fingers. Five or six times he repeated this action. Finally he took out -of his pocket a handkerchief, spread it out on the ground, and piled -several handfuls of ashes on it; then gathering the ends together, he -made a knot and put the package under his arm. Rising, he looked around -and then walked off in the direction of Main Street. - -Just as soon as he thought it was safe, Jack was up and following. What -was the most reasonable thing to do, he tried to figure out. Should -he notify the police? Should he run off and talk it over with Paul or -Ken? Or should he do nothing and just follow. Unable to determine what -would be his most reasonable action, he continued to follow the man and -thought of nothing else. - -A block before Main Street, he saw his man suddenly disappear into -the side street. Becoming frantic at the thought of losing him, Jack -sprinted up to the corner. He saw his man flattening out against the -wall of the corner building. Jack hid behind a parked car. Was the -man aware of being followed? Jack tried to think whether he had at -any moment shown himself. His deliberations were cut short by the man -stepping forth again and continuing on his way. Pursuer and pursued -turned left on Main Street. The man increased his pace, stretching out -his long legs. However, Jack had no difficulty in following. Clear -across the town the two went, back to John Street into which the man -turned. Jack hesitated for a second before crossing the street. There -was something funny about being led back to this deserted street. Could -it be possible that he was being led into a trap of some sort? Chucking -his anxiety and doubt to the winds, he crossed the street to follow, -but by then the man had disappeared. He walked up and down the street -but the man did not return. - -Jack returned to Main Street. “Whew!” He wiped the perspiration off -his brow. That was some night, some chase, he thought to himself. The -next moment he felt a pang of regret for having lost track of his man. -However, it could not be helped and it would be useless to worry over -it. Now that he had a pretty good picture of the individual—even -though he had not seen the face—Jack felt certain that he would come -upon him again. In the meanwhile he thought it best to go over and see -Paul. - -Paul and Ken were sitting on the steps of the porch. Side by side, in -silence, each mused over his thoughts. Paul noticed someone approach -the gate. The next moment he was on his feet and running to meet his -chum. “Jack!” he cried, “where have you been?” - -Ken also ran up. “Hey!” he spoke harshly, “you had us in stitches. What -is the idea of disappearing like that and where have you been?” - -Jack smiled. “I am sorry I had you fellows worried,” he said. “But wait -until I tell you what happened to me.” - -“What?” demanded Paul impatiently. - -“Let’s sit down first; I’m tired.” - -The boys sat down at the rear of the porch, so as not to be disturbed. -Jack told his story and Paul and Ken listened gravely, interrupting -every once in a while for some detailed information. They sat so -closely together, listened so attentively to the narrative, that an -outsider seeing them would have taken them for conspirators. In a sense -they were that: they were conspiring on how to capture and rid the -neighborhood of a maniac. When Jack had at last concluded, Ken let out -a long whistle. Paul whispered, “That proves all my suspicions.” - -“Wait a minute,” said Ken. “Let’s re-consider the whole situation. Both -of you seem to have the impression that the man is a maniac, crazy. But -how do you know that he didn’t contrive the whole thing just to put on -a show for Jack’s sake? How do you know what the man was up to? He -might have realized that he was being followed and to mislead Jack, he -performed a mighty interesting show. We don’t know whether this man is -guilty of burning down that house and before we are sure of it, let’s -not pass judgement.” - -There was silence. Those statements provided plenty of food for thought -and all three of them knitted their brows. Paul said, “What you say -is true, Ken. Of course, we must not pass judgement hastily. However, -somehow I feel that my suspicions are correct.” - -Jack nodded. “I feel the same way about it,” he offered as his opinion. - -“At any rate,” argued Ken, “let’s wait and see. You say that you would -recognize him if you saw him again—” - -“Absolutely,” asserted Jack interrupting. “I could pick him out of a -million men.” - -“Very well, then. In that case, we will watch out for him. In the -meanwhile, I suggest that the first thing tomorrow morning we go over -to Water Street and examine the place. Perhaps we will find some sort -of clue, his footprints if nothing else.” - -“It’s too bad we can’t go there tonight,” said Jack. - -“No. For one thing, it is too late. And secondly if someone noticed -us there tonight, we would be under suspicion. And that would make -everything perfect.” - -“That’s settled, then,” remarked Ken as he rose. “I am going home. -Coming, Jack?” - -“Yes. Goodnight, Paul.” - -“Goodnight. See you fellows tomorrow morning.” - -“Righto!” - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE SPY - - -The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met -and set off for Water Street. At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed -out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept. Searching for -footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged. They -continued their search for other possible clues but found none. In the -midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a -flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street. Making believe -that he saw nothing, he bent over and continued his investigations; -however, he had his eyes glued to the spot. And sure enough, he saw a -head protrude. He was amazed. Was it possible that someone was spying -on them? Was it possible that the person Jack had followed the evening -before had now turned around and was following them? - -He called the two boys over. Pretending that he was explaining to -them the outline of a footprint, he told them in a few words, of his -discovery. “Don’t look now,” he warned his friends; “and don’t both -look at the same time.” - -Ken joked, saying, “I hope this thing hasn’t got you so that you are -beginning to see things.” - -“Don’t be funny,” remarked Paul seriously. “Suppose you fellows move -off now. Keep an eye on the spot I pointed out to you and don’t give -yourselves away.” - -The boys separated and pretended to be absorbed in their -investigations. They kept this up for about five minutes and then Paul -called them and they walked away. “Well?” he asked anxiously. - -Jack nodded. “You are right,” he whispered. “I also saw the head -protruding from behind the fence watching us.” - -“What about you, Ken? Did you see anything?” - -He shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but I am not as eagle-eyed as -you two. I saw nothing suspicious.” - -“But I saw him watching us several times,” insisted Paul. - -“I saw him only once,” added Jack. - -“Well, you two may be right and I wrong,” commented the third companion. - -“Who do you think it could be?” asked Jack. “And what do you think his -purpose is?” - -“How should I know?” - -“Do you think it is that man I followed last night?” - -Paul hesitated for a moment then shook his head. “No, and I will tell -you why. The person you followed last night was tall and gaunt. This -individual appeared to me to be about average height and robust. I -could tell that from the shadow.” - -“Shall I turn around and see if we are being followed?” asked Ken. - -“No, don’t do that,” warned Paul. “He might catch on that we know we -are being followed. I have a better plan.” - -“What?” - -“When we get to Main Street, you, Ken, will turn right, wave to us, -make believe as though you are saying goodbye. Jack and I will turn -left and pretend that we are going home. But instead of actually -walking off, Ken, you will dash into a doorway and watch to see if -anyone is following us.” - -“And if there is?” asked Ken. - -“Then you will follow him, naturally,” was Paul’s answer. - -“And if there is not?” - -“Then you will take a roundabout route and meet us in my house in about -half an hour.” - -“All right. I’ll do that.” - -At Main Street, the group parted, one boy walking off in one direction, -while the other two headed in the opposite direction. Ken, just as soon -as he parted from his companions, walked to the second store from the -corner, a haberdashery, and stared at the window display. Actually, -however, his eyes were roaming elsewhere and he was carefully watching -the corner. Some people came out of Water Street, but by the look on -their faces, by their general appearance and by the fact that they -seemed to know exactly which way their direction lay, Ken knew that it -was not any one of them. Suddenly he caught his breath. A robust man of -medium height emerged from the street and paused at the corner. He wore -a light jacket and a Panama hat, the brim pulled down over his forehead. - -After standing hesitantly on the corner, he turned left, seemingly bent -on following Paul and Jack. Ken crossed the street and followed. The -chase continued for several blocks, the man increasing his pace and Ken -doing likewise. The two boys were just ahead, crossing Chestnut Street. -As the man came to the corner, he turned. Ken stopped at a corner -store and looked at the window display. He watched the man walk to the -middle of the block and then turn into the yard of a private house. Ken -scratched his head and wondered. - -The two boys were awaiting him. As Ken came up the walk to the porch, -Paul asked, “Well?” - -Ken nodded meaningfully and the two boys were re-assured of their -suspicions. Joining his companions, he muttered, “This man hunt is -getting me. I’m afraid that before it is all over I am going to go -crazy.” - -“Why? What’s the matter?” inquired Jack. - -“Do you know who was following us?” Ken put the question very gravely -and looked from one boy to the other. - -“Who?” - -“Captain Bob.” - -The announcement came as a shock, almost overwhelming them. Each boy -searched the face of the other for some meaning or understanding. But -all of them were just as puzzled. Paul repeated the name, “Captain Bob! -But why should he follow us?” - -Ken shrugged his shoulders. “Are you sure it was he?” questioned Jack, -his demeanor grave and serious. - -“I am absolutely positive. After all, I know the man. It’s true I -didn’t see his face—” - -Paul jumped. “You didn’t see his face!” he exclaimed. “Then how do you -know it was he? You might be mistaken.” - -Ken shrugged his shoulders. “Very possible,” he said, “but I am pretty -sure I am not mistaken. To begin with, I know the man and I can -recognize him without seeing his face. And secondly, I watched him -walk down Chestnut Street and enter a house at about the middle of the -street. That is where he lives, isn’t it?” - -“Yes, but are you sure he walked into his own house—that is, Captain -Bob’s house?” demanded Paul. - -“Well, no, I didn’t follow him all the way to his home; I watched from -the corner. But just the same I am pretty sure that it was Captain Bob.” - -There was silence. The boys could not understand why the Captain should -follow them. “Well, I’ll be!” exclaimed Jack. “This thing is getting -beyond me and I am losing my patience.” - -“Now don’t get excited,” cautioned Paul. “And keep quiet for a couple -of minutes. I am trying to think of something.” - -“Think of what?” asked Ken. - -“Of what he said to us when we were over to see him,” was the answer. - -“What about it?” - -Paul leaned over toward his two companions. “Now look, fellows,” he -began. “There is one particular thing he told us that comes back to me -now very distinctly. You remember how just as we were leaving, he said -to us, ‘Don’t you go around talking about a pyromaniac; it may get you -into trouble.’ Remember him saying that?” - -Jack nodded. “Yes, I remember.” - -“Same here,” added Ken, “now that you call our attention to it. But -what about it? He meant it for our own good.” - -“Of course,” said Paul, “I am not doubting his sincerity. But, Captain -Bob is much shrewder than we give him credit for, that’s the point.” - -“How do you mean?” inquired Jack. - -“We came over to talk over with him the fire, didn’t we?” continued -Paul. “Well, remember that he didn’t seem to have a very definite -opinion though he did feel that there was something odd about the cause -or origin of the fire.” - -“Well, what’s your point?” demanded Ken, his curiosity aroused. - -“Only this,” said Paul, “that since we told him of our own doubts -about the fire and that since we told him we suspected a pyromaniac, -he immediately came to the conclusion that we knew more than we were -telling him. And in order to find out what we may know about the fire, -he is following us.” - -“Sounds logical to me,” muttered Jack. - -Ken shook his head. “It may sound logical,” he said, “but somehow I am -not convinced. How should he know we were going out to Water Street -this morning? And he would have to watch the house of any one of us -three all morning to follow us. And why should he pick this morning to -follow us?” - -Paul smiled at his friend’s naive questions. “To begin with,” he said, -“how do we know he has not been following us since that night we spoke -to him? But I am under the impression that his following us is just an -accident.” - -“An accident!” echoed Jack. “Explain yourself.” - -“I will if you don’t interrupt. My impression is that he was coming to -Water Street this morning also to search for some clues to the fire. -But when he saw us there, he naturally watched us to see what we were -up to and then followed us.” - -Ken shook his head in a gesture of disbelief. Jake, on the other hand -mused quietly, trying to untangle the whole situation, but unable to -find a starting point. Finally he asked, “Do you think he will continue -to follow us, Paul?” - -“Can’t tell. He may and he may not.” - -After a short time of silence, Jack rose and suggested, “Well, let’s go -home for lunch.” - -“That’s a bully idea,” cried Ken. “I didn’t realize how hungry I am.” - -“All right, I’ll see you boys later,” said Paul. - -That evening, immediately after supper, Paul went across the street to -call for Ken. As the two boys walked down the street, Paul whispered, -“We are being followed.” - -Ken gasped. “Captain Bob!” he exclaimed in a hushed tone of voice. - -“Don’t know. But for the last half hour I noticed that someone was -hovering about the house. And as we came out and walked away, I noticed -a form slink out of the shadows and follow us.” - -“What do you think we ought to do?” - -“I have an idea.” And he whispered some instructions to his friend. - -Ken nodded. “And then what?” he asked. - -“Leave the rest to me.” - -When the two boys arrived in front of Jack’s home, Paul spoke up rather -loudly, “I guess I’ll walk down the block and call Nuthin’. I’ll be -back in about five minutes.” - -“All right,” answered Ken just as loudly. “Jack and I will wait for -you.” - -Ken entered the yard while Paul walked off straight ahead. Turning in -at the end of the street, he set off at a run around the block. - -Returning to the same street at the other end, he hovered close to the -wall of a building and looked everywhere to detect the hiding place of -the spy. Suddenly he caught his breath. He detected a slight movement -behind a fence at the other side of the street, several houses below. -He crossed to the other side and walked ahead. Sure enough, a man -stepped out and came toward him. As they met, Paul greeted, “Hello, -Captain Bob.” - -The man grunted and was going to pass on, but Paul instantly got into -his way. The man stopped, “Huh?” he muttered. “Did you speak to me?” - -“I said hello, Captain Bob.” - -“Hello yourself. Now let me see, your face seems to be familiar, but I -can’t seem to remember your name.” - -“Paul Morrison.” - -“Oh, yes, yes. You are the boy who dashed into the burning house and—” - -Paul interrupted. “Yes, that’s right; you know me.” What a poor -actor the man was, Paul thought. He certainly couldn’t get away with -pretending that he didn’t know him. His heart pounded and perspiration -gathered on his brow. He was debating with himself what his approach -should be. Would it be best merely to imply that Captain Bob’s spying -was a known fact to them or should he put it frankly to the old man -and see what he would say. Paul steeled himself. Very suddenly, trying -to take the man off his guard, he said, “Captain Bob, I am very much -surprised that you should be following us.” - -The old man straightened up. “What was that you said? Following you? -What for? Why should I be following you, tell me that.” - -“That is something you should tell me,” he replied respectfully. “But -you spied on us this morning on Water Street and then followed us as -far as Chestnut Street. And just now you were following us again.” - -It was really too dark to tell, but Paul felt that the old man had -turned red and became confused. “My dear boy,” he mumbled angrily, “You -don’t know what you are talking about.” - -“You shouldn’t say that, Captain Bob. If I wasn’t positive, I wouldn’t -accost you like this.” - -After a moment of tense silence, the captain laughed. “Well, my boy,” -he said, “you are right, but I promise not to do it any more.” - -“Thank you. But if you don’t mind, I wish you would tell me why you are -following us.” - -Captain Bob replied gravely, “You see, my boy, there have been too -many fires in this town lately. And when you and your friends came -and talked to me about the fire the other day, I became a little -suspicious. I tried to,—er,—get as much information out of you as I -could, but somehow I felt that you were not telling me everything. So I -thought I would check up on you.” - -A feeling of relief swept over Paul. He wanted to jump into the air -and shout for joy. Even though he was a modest boy, he had to pat -himself on the back; thus far, all his suspicions and deductions had -been correct. He would certainly make a good detective. The captain -was waiting for him to say something and he commented, “But we really -don’t know any more than we told you, Captain Bob. If there is anything -the boys and I can do to help you, such as help check up on your -suspicions—that is if you have any—we would be glad to do so.” - -The old man chuckled. “You are a smart one, my boy. I know that you -have something up your sleeve. But never mind.” - -Paul felt his face going red. He must not give anything away, he -thought. Out loud, he said, “But really, Captain, we don’t. We don’t -know as much as you do, if as much.” - -“Well, never mind. And,—er,—forget about my following you. I meant no -harm.” - -“I’m sure of that,” replied the boy. “And it is perfectly all right.” - -“Good night, my boy.” - -“Good night, Captain Bob.” - -Paul watched the man disappear around the corner. And just as he -started to cross the street, two figures darted out toward him, “Well?” -cried Ken. - -Paul put a finger to his lips. “Sh!” he cautioned. - -The boys retreated to Jack’s garage where Paul told his companions the -story. Just as soon as the narrative was completed, Ken cried, “The sly -old fox! You know, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he continues to -spy on us.” - -“That is just what I was going to say,” agreed Paul. “He is a very -shrewd man and I am positive that he suspects somehow.” - -“You don’t mean to say that he suspects us of setting fire to that -house?” inquired Jack seriously. - -“No, not setting fire to the house,” answered Paul smiling. “That is -ridiculous and we must give him more credit than that. My impression is -that he suspects us of knowing something about it which we are holding -back from him. And that happens to be true.” - -“Providing, of course, that our suspicions are correct,” argued Ken, -still a bit doubtful. - -“Well, of course, under those conditions.” - -“What do you think our next move should be?” questioned Jack. - -“Let’s go to the movies,” suggested Ken. - -“Oh, no!” exclaimed Jack. - -“Why not?” reasoned Paul. “Captain Bob won’t follow us tonight any -more—” - -“Which makes it safe for us to go to the movies,” joked Ken. - -The boys laughed. “Seriously, though,” said Paul, “there is nothing -else for us to do tonight. That man was abroad last night, and it is -reasonable to assume that he won’t do any more prowling around tonight.” - -“I agree with that wholeheartedly,” said Ken. “Let’s go to the movies.” - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE ROBBERY - - -The following morning, at the breakfast table, Paul happened to glance -at the front page of the _Stanhope Herald_ which Dr. Morrison was -reading. At the bottom of the page, boxed off, was a story with the -headline PROFESSOR LINK’S HOUSE ROBBED. Paul became quite upset and -found it difficult to eat his cereal. However, he controlled himself -and did not show any untoward interest in the newspaper. His father -finished breakfast first, and he laid down the paper and left for his -office. Paul gulped down his milk, picked up the paper and went out on -the porch. - -The story was that someone had broken into Professor Link’s home and -had stolen a valuable, early edition of “Colonial History.” Nothing -else was taken, except that the thief had strewn many of the books on -the floor. The theory was that the thief had entered by an open window -in the library. - -Ken came dashing across the street and up to the porch. “Hey, Paul!” he -cried, “did you read the story in the morning paper?” Paul held up the -paper. “So you know already?” - -Jack came. “Well, what do you think of the robbery?” he asked bluntly. -“I had a feeling we should not have gone to the movies last night.” - -“What could we have done?” asked Ken. - -“We might have come upon him and possibly frustrated his plan.” - -“So!” exclaimed Ken. “You think that ‘he’ did it? Pretty soon you will -have every crime under the sun charged up against him.” - -“I don’t think we could have done anything,” commented Paul. “The paper -says that the robbery occurred any time after about midnight, when the -professor says he left his library to go to bed.” - -“But we might have come across him sometime before and followed him. -Then we might about have judged what he was up to.” Thus argued Jack. - -“Maybe yes and maybe no,” was Paul’s pert statement. - -“Paul,” demanded Ken, “you don’t mean to tell me that you really -believe this man, this so-called maniac, committed the robbery, do you?” - -“Yes, I do.” - -“Tell me, how do you figure it out?” - -“It’s very simple,” was Paul’s answer. “Only one book was stolen. Of -course, the book was an old edition and valuable, but valuable only to -a man like Professor Link. In actual money, the book is worth perhaps -ten or fifteen dollars; but if the thief was going to sell it, he -wouldn’t get more than four or five dollars for it.” - -“Yes,” added Jack, “there were more valuable things in the room, if -the thief had been interested in stealing something valuable. That is -in itself enough to show that the thief, whoever he was, was either -a maniac or one who was interested in obtaining only that book and -nothing else. But an ordinary, normal man, would not break into a house -to steal something like that.” - -“Maybe,” remarked Ken doubtfully, “but—” - -Paul interrupted, saying, “Let’s go over to Bobolink and get him to go -over to Professor Link. He is Bobolink’s grandfather, isn’t he?” - -“Yes. Let’s do that.” - -The boys wended their way to Bobolink’s home and luckily found him -still in. He was glad to see them, and commented, “I was just going to -call you fellows.” - -“What for?” - -“I thought that perhaps you might be interested in accompanying me to -my grandfather’s home.” - -“That’s why we came for you,” Jack informed him. - -“Good. I’ll be with you in a minute.” - -Professor Link who lived alone except for a woman who cooked and kept -house for him, was a retired college professor and an authority in -colonial history. He occupied a small, private house of his own and -spent his time writing books on the history of the early pioneering -days. - -His three companions behind him, Bobolink rang the bell. The -housekeeper opened the door. “Good morning, Mrs. Hix,” greeted -Bobolink. “Is my grandfather in?” - -Mrs. Hix answered, “He is in the library.” - -The boys filed in and Bobolink knocked on the library door. “Come in,” -someone called. - -The boys entered. Mr. Link was a gray haired man of about sixty with -a warm smile, who was very friendly to young people. “Hello, Gramps,” -greeted Bobolink. - -“Hello, fellows,” returned the professor. “What are you doing here?” he -asked curiously. - -“Just thought we would pay you a visit,” his grandson informed him. - -“That’s very nice of you, but I wonder what is behind it. Sit down, -boys.” - -The walls of the room were lined with books. And it appeared that the -mess that the thief had caused was all cleaned up. “What about that -robbery, Gramps?” asked Bobolink. - -Paul was walking around the room, pretending to be looking at the -books. Actually he was searching for something. He paused to hear the -professor’s answer to the question. “Not much harm done.” - -“Was it a valuable book?” asked Jack. - -“Not so particularly valuable; a book on colonial history.” - -“Isn’t it rather odd that the thief should take that particular book -and nothing else?” asked Paul casually. - -Professor Link pursed his lips. “Rather,” he answered. “If he had been -out to steal, he could have found more valuable things to take. He -might even have found some money in the drawer of my desk, if he had -looked.” - -“But nothing else was touched?” Paul asked the question and was anxious -to hear the answer. “No. Nothing else seems to have been taken.” -Bobolink and Ken discussed with the professor the state university to -which they were going, entering as freshmen in September. Paul walked -around the back of the desk. He glanced down into the waste-paper -basket. His heart almost stopped still. He picked something out of the -basket and said to the professor, “Do you mind if I use this to copy -down the name of a book?” Professor Link looked at the card. “Not at -all. Where did you get it?” - -“In the waste basket.” Paul turned the card to show that it was blank -on both sides. - -The boys stared at Paul and at the white card. “Here is some clean -paper,” the professor said, and pushed forward a white pad. “And here -is a pencil,” he added. - -“This is perfectly all right,” asserted Paul. Picking up the pencil, he -pretended that he was copying down the title of a book. - -The boys were eager to get out, yet they could not very well show -haste without making the professor suspicious. So they lingered for -an additional twenty minutes, discussing colleges and college life. -At last they escaped. As soon as they were outside the door, Bobolink -opened his mouth to ask a question. But Paul cautioned him. “Sh! Let’s -wait until we are further away from the house.” - -Some distance away, Bobolink finally asked his question. “What was that -card you picked out of the basket?” - -Paul took it out of his pocket and showed it to them—a white card, -blank on both sides, and three by two inches. “You have your card, -Jack?” asked Paul. “Mine is home.” - -“Yes, here it is.” And he produced it. - -The cards were compared; they were identical. “Well, now what do you -think of that!” exclaimed Bobolink. - -“In every case,” whispered Paul seriously, “the same person. This is -becoming terrible.” - -“Yes,” agreed Ken. “I’m coming to look at it from your point of view. -And from now on we have to take it more seriously and do something.” - -“What can we do?” asked Bobolink. - -“You know what?” remarked Paul. “If I didn’t think we would be laughed -at, I would tell the police.” - -“Aw, go on,” said Ken. “If all the evidence you have is the white card -and the fact that Jack followed a suspicious looking person, they -would think that you were either crazy or trying to put something over.” - -“That’s the trouble,” asserted Paul. “In that case it is up to us to -solve the mystery and put an end to it.” - -“Well said,” commented Bobolink, “but how are we going to do it?” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -ENCOUNTER - - -The boys did not know what to do nor how to do it. But they were -determined to put an end to the mystery. And shortly, too. If the -man was permitted to roam the streets of the town freely, God knows -what damage he might eventually do and what crimes he might have up -his sleeve. He might lead away another child, he might commit more -robberies, he might put the torch to a house full of sleeping persons, -he might do anything. He had to be caught; upon that the boys were -firmly convinced. - -That evening, Jack came to Paul and said, “Listen, I’m going to tell my -mother that I am having supper at your house tonight. But instead, I am -going down to Jones Street and nose around a bit.” - -“That’s a good idea. But suppose I go with you.” - -“No, I would rather go down alone. It is too difficult for two people -to be hiding together, darting in and out, and all that.” - -“You are right, Jack. Be careful, though. Don’t get into any trouble. I -feel guilty letting you go alone.” - -“Oh, don’t talk like an old woman.” The boys laughed at that. “I can -take care of myself. I have done it before.” - -“Very well, go ahead. But I want you to come back and tell what -happens.” - -“All right. But if nothing happens, I won’t come. I will go home -instead.” - -Thus it was agreed and the two boys parted. Half an hour later, Jack -was at the corner of Main and Jones Streets. It was still daylight and -Jack had the opportunity to look the neighborhood over. It was a poor -and deserted neighborhood, not far from the edge of the town. The first -building on the corner was an old wooden house. At the street level was -a grocery store, and the floor above looked as though it were occupied -by a family. - -Alongside this building was an empty lot, as was true of the opposite -corner. Further on, intermittently on both sides of the street were -one or two family wooden homes. Jack walked up and down the block -twice. There were some women on several of the porches and a number of -children played on the empty lots. He decided to take up a position at -the corner of Jones and Main Streets, but it was still light and he -didn’t want to arouse any suspicion. So it became a problem as to how -to spend the hours until dark. - -First he walked up and down the block several times, then went around -the block twice until he was afraid that people in the neighborhood -might become suspicious of him. Then he walked up Main Street and back -again. It seemed to him that the day would never end. He crossed -the street to the empty lot and walked to the farthest corner of it. -Picking out a comfortable place to sit down, where he would not be -noticed, he tried to watch the corner so as to see everyone who passed. - -The minutes dragged on endlessly. What is the matter, Jack asked -himself. Time usually passes so quickly; before you turn around the day -is gone. And now—He shifted in his seat and found the ground hard to -sit on. Staring vaguely at the house on the corner, at the few people -that passed up and down, many thoughts came to his mind. The uppermost -thought in his mind was, what might be wrong with this man, the maniac? -It was something he wished he knew, as he had always been interested in -trying to figure out what made people do the things they did. - -But that thought soon slipped his mind and was replaced by another -one—that of going to college. Another three weeks and the summer -vacation would be over and Ken, Bobolink, Paul and he would be on their -way to the state university. What was college life like, he wondered. -There were sports, of course. Ken would make a swell swimmer and Paul -would most likely join the football squad. As for himself, he would -try basketball. Then there were the fraternities. He had heard a lot -about Greek letter clubs. But he was not going to bother much with any -outside activities; he was going to study to be a doctor. So was Paul. -And it took a lot of study to become a doctor. - -He was staring rather aimlessly. His dreaming helped to pass the time -away. It was already almost dusk. Suddenly he was electrified. He -jumped to his feet and then he dropped to the ground again. A tall -individual had just then emerged from the door of the corner house. -Bending low, he ran to the corner and caught sight of the retreating -back of his man. A cold chill ran down his spine. He was certain of his -man. There was the same height, the same baggy clothes and that wild -appearance. The man kept shifting his head in all directions; his eyes -seemed to be everywhere, staring at people, at houses, at everything. - -Jack followed closely. It was still not quite dark and he hoped he -would not be stopped by anyone. He was rather glad when the man turned -into York Street. It was a quiet, residential street and instantly -Jack feared what the man might be up to. Was he bent on starting a -fire in one of the fine houses on the street? But his fears were in -vain because the man kept on walking, almost reaching the tracks. -Repeating his gestures of the day before, the man suddenly stopped -and very slowly turned around on his heel. Jack had just enough time -to dash behind a fence. The man entered the yard and then walked -behind the house. Jack ran up and hid himself behind a tree almost -directly across from the house. Looking closely, he noticed that the -house appeared to be unoccupied. There were no lights in the windows -and there was nothing to indicate that anyone lived there. The man -reappeared and entered the house by the front door. He just walked in -without using any key, or breaking in the lock. There was something -suspicious about the house. If it were unoccupied, it should be locked. -If a family did live there, there would be some light in the windows; -and probably the maniac would not enter so assured of his safety. - -It seemed to Jack that the man was in the house a long time. He decided -on a dangerous tactic. Quickly, noiselessly, he sprinted across the -street, jumped the fence and ran to the side of the house. Cautiously, -he moved to see if there was a back door; he found it on the other side -of the house. Putting his hand on the knob, he turned it and pushed, -but the door wouldn’t open; it was locked. He moved toward the front -again, to watch for the exit of his man. Every second was an eternity. -His heart pounded wildly and if he had not controlled himself, he would -have trembled, not so much from fear as from anxiety and excitement. - -He flattened himself out against the wall and remained stationary, not -daring to make a noise. Suddenly he felt long, bony fingers grab him -by the shoulder and wheel him around. His blood went cold and he could -almost feel his hair standing on end. “So!” the man grunted under his -breath. “What are you doing, following me, eh?” Jack cowered before -the great height towering over him. He saw that the man had a rising -forehead, bushy eyebrows and deep eye sockets. What impressed him most, -however, were the man’s sunken cheeks and his wild eyes, which were -dark and brilliant. - -For almost a minute, Jack was paralyzed and couldn’t talk. Eventually -he muttered, “No—no—I—I’m not following you.” - -“Yes, you are,” accused the man. “You have been following me for two -weeks now and I want you to stop it.” - -Jack heaved a sigh of relief. The man was crazy. But was he dangerous, -he wondered. Would he attack him. He was on guard against an attack. -“Why, no, Mister, I’m not following you. Why should I? I don’t even -know you.” - -“You lie!” screamed the other. “You lie! You do know me and I know you.” - -Jack thought he had better be quiet and polite with his assailant. A -good, sound argument might get him out of his predicament, he thought. -“I am sorry, Mister,” he said, “but I repeat that I don’t know you. If -you know me, as you say you do, then what is my name.” - -Still holding on to Jack’s shoulder, the man scratched his chin. “Now -let me see,” he mumbled to himself. “What is your name?” He mused, -then he snapped his fingers and announced, “I know. It’s Jack.” - -The boy gasped. How could that man know him, know his name. What was -he to do? He wished he had never known about this thing, had never -followed this man and had never got into this situation. Controlling -himself, he asked, “What is my family name?” - -“Barrows!” the man snapped back. “Barrows, that’s it.” - -“You are wrong,” contradicted Jack. “My name is Ed Smith.” - -“No,” insisted the man, “you are Jack Barrows. And I demand to know why -you are following me.” - -“But I am not following you. You are mistaken.” - -“Then what are you doing here?” The man’s voice now boomed. “Tell me -that!” - -“I used to live in this house,” fabricated unhappy Jack. “I once used -to live here,” he repeated, “and I was just looking around.” - -“So you used to live here!” - -The man lifted his free arm and swung. Jack ducked. The arm crashed -against the wall, the man screamed with pain and Jack wrenched himself -free. The man lunged for him. Jack side-stepped and stuck his foot out; -his victim tripped and stretched himself out on the ground. Without -waiting or looking back, Jack was off. He jumped the fence and dashed -down the street. Rounding the corner, he stopped to consider why he -was running. He stood nonchalantly and waited for his man to appear. -But the mysterious individual was not forthcoming. He waited five more -minutes and still he did not appear. - -He came around the corner again and crossed to the other side of the -street. Walking slowly and cautiously, he came to the tree opposite the -house. Taking shelter, Jack looked across. A wave of pity swept through -him at the scene he saw. On the very same spot, almost where he fell, -the man was now sitting up and his shoulders were trembling. From all -appearances, the man was sobbing bitterly, as though his heart were -breaking. - -Who is this man, Jack asked himself. And what is the matter with him? -What had ever happened to him to cause him to become what he was. Jack -asked himself all those questions but had no answers. He determined to -find out. He must find out, he thought to himself. - -Jack looked at his watch and saw that it was almost nine o’clock. He -realized that he was terribly hungry. He decided not to wait around any -more but to go home. On the way he remembered that he had promised Paul -that he would come over and tell him if anything had happened. But he -did not feel like it at the moment and he went straight home and called -Paul on the telephone. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -WHO IS MR. GREY? - - -Paul and Ken were listening attentively to Jack’s story of what had -happened the night before. Paul commented, “It’s really a pity. What we -have to do is to catch him in the act as soon as possible and have him -arrested. Then something might be done for him.” - -“What could be done for him?” asked Ken. - -“Oh, I don’t know. Most likely he would be put into an asylum. That -would be best, too, I guess.” - -Jack showed his companions the house to which he followed his man the -night before. There was nothing much to see there. The place was empty -and unoccupied. But strangely, the front door was open. They entered -and searched about. All the rooms were empty and dusty. In the hall -again Paul noticed some scraps of paper in one corner. He looked at -them but thought nothing suspicious of it. He sniffed the air and then -shook his head. - -Outside again, they walked calmly off. “No clues here, it seems,” -muttered Ken. - -“No,” asserted Paul. And again he thought of the scraps of paper but -the next moment dismissed them from his mind. “What seems to bother -me most,” he added, “is how he came to suspect that he was being -followed?” - -“I don’t think he really suspected,” said Jack. “My opinion is that he -came upon me by accident.” - -“A very unhappy accident,” commented Ken. - -“Yes, rather.” - -“I should think so,” remarked Paul. He shook his head doubtfully. “Yet -somehow I can’t quite believe it. Of course, you’re most likely right, -but—” - -He broke off his sentence in the middle, not quite decided upon his -opinion. Jack thought out loud. “I wonder who this man is and what is -wrong with him?” - -“You say there is a grocery store at the corner house, is that right?” -The boys stopped and Jack nodded. “Then,” continued Ken, “let’s go down -there and inquire in a roundabout way in the store. They might know -him.” - -“That’s a swell idea,” cried Paul. - -“Yes, I think so too,” added Jack. “Let’s do it.” - -They walked down to Jones Street. A very short distance before they -arrived at their destination, they stopped to decide upon their plan of -action. “Exactly how are we going to do it?” asked Jack. - -“One of us will have to go inside and make a purchase, then ask about a -tall dark-complexioned man.” - -“I guess one of you two better go in. They may have noticed me around -here and they might get suspicious.” - -“I will go in,” offered Ken. “But what am I to say?” - -“Just ask if they know a tall, dark man living somewhere in the -neighborhood,” instructed Paul. - -“But if they ask me what I want him for, what am I to say?” - -“Make up some kind of story, anything. Say that you were told that he -was a plumber, or something like that, and that you want him to do a -job.” - -“All right, I’ll go in. Where are you fellows going to be?” - -“We will be right here. And when you come out, just keep walking -straight ahead as if you don’t know us.” - -“Okey, here goes.” - -Ken walked off and came to the store. He hesitated, looked around, -pretending that he was not certain it was the right place. He entered. -He noticed that a middle-aged woman was alone in the store. She came -out from behind the counter and asked, “Is there anything I can do for -you?” - -“Er—excuse me,” he said, “but I am looking for a tall, dark man. I was -told that he lives in this neighborhood somewhere.” - -“I know a tall, dark man,” she answered, speaking softly. “What is it -you want him for, may I ask?” - -“I was told he was a carpenter and looking for work and—” - -“It couldn’t be Mr. Grey. He is not a carpenter. You couldn’t mean him.” - -“No, I guess not. Thank you.” - -“It’s quite all right.” - -Ken left the store much excited. He walked briskly till he came upon -the boys. They fell in alongside of him. “Well?” asked Paul. - -“His name is Mr. Grey,” gasped Ken. - -“What else?” - -“That’s all. The woman did not tell me any more.” - -“But the name alone is not enough,” cried Jack. “What does he do? Where -does he live?” - -“I couldn’t ask her such questions,” Ken defended himself. “She would -become suspicious and tell me nothing.” - -“Let’s not argue,” cautioned Paul. “At least we have his name, that’s -something. Did the woman in the store seem to know him?” - -“Yes. I should imagine from the way she spoke that she knew him well.” - -“She didn’t mention anything, else?” asked Jack. - -“No.” - -The boys walked silently along for some while. Paul snapped his -fingers. “You know what?” he cried. “Let’s look him up in the town -directory.” - -“Where will we get one?” inquired Ken. - -“I have one home,” said Paul. - -The boys hurried to the Morrison home and Paul brought out the town -directory. It didn’t help them any. There were three Greys. One was a -pharmacist, the second was a butcher and the third a lawyer. They put -the book down and Jack muttered, “That’s not much of a help.” - -“No. It’s very possible that he has only recently moved into town,” -commented Paul. - -“Now that is an idea,” remarked Ken. “The reason he is so little known -must be because he is a newcomer around here.” - -“But how does that help us any?” asked Jack. - -“Well, it’s good to keep it in mind,” asserted Ken. - -“What do you say we go down to that neighborhood again?” asked Jack, -“and just look around. Perhaps we can find some person who knows -something.” - -“It’s all right with me,” was Paul’s comment. - -The three boys shuffled off the porch and walked down Main Street -again. At Jones Street, they could find no other stores in the -immediate neighborhood where they might enter and obtain some -information. They walked back and forth several times, but their -searches were futile. One of them suggested that they quit and go home -and the others assented. Passing on the other side of the street, -the three of them kept their eyes on the store. A woman emerged. Ken -grasped Paul by the arm. “Look,” he said, “there’s the woman leaving -the store.” - -“Well, what about her?” - -“Don’t you understand?” demanded Ken. “She is the woman I spoke to when -I entered the store.” - -“That’s right,” cried Jack. “If she is leaving, someone else must be in -the store. I am going in. Perhaps I can obtain some information.” - -Paul held on to his chum who was on the point of walking off. “No,” he -said. “I’m going in. You may have been noticed around here before and -it would look suspicious. Both of you just keep walking back and forth -and don’t attract attention. I am going in.” - -Jack and Ken continued walking along Main Street while Paul crossed -over to the store and entered. A customer was at the counter and -Paul pretended to be looking around. The customer left and the man, -evidently the proprietor, remained behind the counter, waiting for Paul -to give his order. “Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked. - -Paul picked up a small box of chocolate crackers and deposited a -nickel on the counter. The man picked up the coin and rang it up on -the register. “Excuse me, Mister, but it seems that a certain Mr. Grey -lives in this neighborhood and....” - -Paul did not finish his sentence. He scrutinized the man’s features -and concluded that the proprietor of the grocery was a shrewd, hard, -and unsympathetic individual. He must be careful of every word, he told -himself. The man drawled, “Now let me think.” He scratched his chin and -pretended that he was trying to remember an individual by the name of -Mr. Grey. “What is it you want of him?” he asked. - -“Well, you see,” Paul began, “my mother heard that he was a carpenter -and she wants some work done.” That was bad, he thought to himself. -It was the same story that Ken had used and if his wife told him that -some boy was in looking for a carpenter, the man was sure to become -suspicious. But he was obliged now to stick to his story. He continued, -“So she sent me around here to try and find him.” - -“Where do you live?” the grocery man asked him. - -“Around the corner. The next street.” - -“I don’t remember ever seeing you around in the neighborhood.” - -Paul realized that he was in a predicament and he had to get himself -out of it. “We just moved in, two weeks ago,” he answered. - -The man scratched his chin again. “Isn’t that strange?” he muttered. “I -haven’t heard of anyone moving in or out of the neighborhood within the -past two weeks.” He paused and eyed Paul who felt his face going red. -“Well, at any rate, I am sorry but I don’t know any Mr. Grey around -here.” - -Paul moved away from the counter. “Thank you,” he said. - -“It’s quite all right. Tell your mother to come in here sometime and do -her shopping. I like to know the people in the neighborhood.” - -“I will.” - -Paul was glad to escape from the store. He had never before realized -how difficult it is to obtain information from people. Joining his -companions, he laughed good naturedly. “What’s the joke?” asked Jack. - -“The old so and so!” he exclaimed. “He got more out of me than I got -out of him.” - -“You mean you didn’t find out anything?” Jack was serious and anxious. - -Paul shook his head. “Not a thing. The old man beat around the bush and -finally confessed that he didn’t know anyone by the name of Mr. Grey.” - -“And you fellows accused me of not obtaining enough information,” Ken -joked. “At least I found out what his name is.” - -The boys were discouraged. “Now what?” asked Jack in a tone of -hopelessness. - -His companions did not know what to do next and rather than talk about -it, they walked along silently. They came to the street on which Jack -lived and he said he was going home. Ken said, “No, don’t do that. It’s -early yet.” - -“Oh, I thought I would go home and putter around with my dad’s car; it -needs some work done on it.” - -“I’ll tell you what,” commented Ken. “Let’s go over and speak to your -father, Paul. He is a doctor and knows a lot of people in town. Perhaps -he might tell us something.” - -Paul shrugged his shoulders. “Yes, we can do that. But I don’t think he -has many patients in this neighborhood.” - -“And if he doesn’t know,” continued Ken, “we might go over and see -Chief of Police Bates. He knows me and I am sure we could get to see -him.” - -Paul shook his head. “I don’t think we ought to see Chief Bates. He -might ask us a lot of questions, worm the story out of us and then -laugh at us or call us crazy kids.” - -“We might at least try your father,” insisted Ken. - -“All right. We will do that.” - -But Dr. Morrison did not know either. He mentioned John Grey, the -pharmacist, Walter Grey the butcher and W. J. Grey the lawyer. Those -were all the Greys he knew. But the boys knew that themselves. They -were stumped. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -STUMPED! - - -It was shortly after lunch time and Paul was doing an errand for his -father. Walking down Main Street, he stopped at a stationery store to -look at the window display. His attention was attracted by someone -coming out of the store. He caught his breath. The man was tall, gaunt, -with ill fitting clothes hanging like sacks on him. “Mr. Grey!” he -thought to himself. - -Not hesitating, Paul followed. He wanted to get a good look at -the man’s face, but how was he going to do that? He thought fast. -Increasing his pace, he walked past the man. At the corner, he -pretended that he was lost and was looking for something. He waited for -Mr. Grey to come up. Approaching the man, he said, “Excuse me, sir. But -can you tell me where McDougal Street is? You see, I am a stranger in -this town.” - -Paul looked up at the great height towering over him. He was very much -excited and kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Mr. -Grey answered softly, “I’m sorry, son, but I really don’t know.” - -Paul pretended that he was disappointed. The man’s sunken cheeks, long -nose and deep sockets, were imprinted in his mind. But it was Mr. -Grey’s eyes that bore into him. Those eyes! he thought to himself, he -would never forget them. They were dark, brilliant, wild. He became -conscious that he was staring very awkwardly at the man and that Mr. -Grey was waiting for him to say something. He said, “You see—er—I am -looking for Grey’s Pharmacy.” - -The man repeated to himself, “Grey’s Pharmacy! I am sorry, but I don’t -think I know where it is.” - -On the spur of the moment, Paul said, “And then I have to go down also -to John and Main Streets. Can you tell me where that is?” - -Paul thought that the man would show some sign of interest at the -mention of the words Grey and John Street. But he was disappointed. -Mr. Grey was quite calm and not at all disturbed by those words. He -answered softly, “Yes, I can tell you where John Street is. You walk -straight down Main Street; you can’t miss it. It is quite a walk -though; almost a mile.” He hesitated for a second and looked down the -street. “There is the car coming,” he continued. “You can take it and -get off at John Street.” - -“Thank you,” murmured Paul and stepped aside to let the man pass on. -He watched Mr. Grey, walk away. Remembering that he still had the -errand to do for his father, he was undecided whether to follow or not. -Shaking his head, he turned and walked off. - -Completing the errand for his father, he ran off to the stationery -store. He entered. A young man behind the counter asked, “What can I do -for you?” - -Paul showed him a blank, white card. “Have you got any cards like -that?” he asked. - -The young man behind the counter took the card, fingered it and -answered, “Yes, we have them. How many do you want?” - -“I need ten,” said Paul. - -The young man stopped as he was pulling out a box from one of the -shelves, and replied, “I’m sorry. The cards are twenty-five cents a -hundred and we don’t sell less than a package of a hundred.” - -“Never mind, then,” announced Paul and walked out of the store. - -Paul felt cheerful; he seethed with excitement. Now he was getting -somewhere, he thought. Upon reflection he realized that he was nowhere -nearer to a solution of the mystery than he was before. Yet he could -not dispel his feeling of excitement. - -He felt someone touch him on the arm and Paul turned around. “Hello, -Captain Bob,” he called. - -“Hello, yourself, my boy,” was the reply. “What are you doing just now?” - -“Nothing much. I am at your disposal, if you want me to do something -for you,” he offered. - -“No, I don’t want you to do anything for me,” and the captain shook his -head. “I merely want to have a few words with you.” - -“That’s all right with me. What is it you want?” - -“Let’s first move away from the main thoroughfare,” remarked Captain -Bob, smiling. “We may get knocked over by all these people rushing past -us.” - -They walked away a short distance into Cherry Street. Paul was curious -to know what the captain had to say to him. He was on his guard, -though. The old man was clever and shrewd and if he thought he was -going to obtain information from him, he was mistaken. Paul steeled -himself and asked, “Is this all right? I guess we can talk here without -being disturbed.” - -Captain Bob nodded. “Yes, I think so, too,” he answered. “What I want -to ask you, my boy, is how are you getting along with solving that -mystery of yours?” - -Paul gasped. He didn’t think the man would put it up to him so bluntly. -“What mystery?” he asked, trying to make his voice sound as though he -were surprised at the question. - -“Now, now,” commented the old man. “Never mind beating around the bush. -Let’s be honest with each other. I suppose you know that I am also -interested in finding the culprit who is responsible for starting that -fire?” - -“That is news to me,” replied Paul. “I didn’t think you had any -suspicions about the cause of the fire.” - -“Well, you know I did. And what’s more, I also know that you and your -friends are doing a lot of detective work. I just want to know how you -are getting along and whether you have come upon any substantial clues.” - -Paul smiled, feeling slightly guilty. “As a matter of fact,” he -answered, “we have not been doing much lately at all. And ...” he -paused to suspend the effect of the remark. “And we don’t know any more -now than we did when we spoke to you about it.” - -“Tsk, tsk.” Captain Bob appeared angry. “I guess we will just have to -wait and see what happens.” - -“If there is anything my friends and I can do,” began Paul. - -The captain cut him short. “Never mind,” he said, “never mind. Goodbye.” - -Captain Bob walked off. Paul smiled to himself and went home. All -afternoon he brooded over his problem. The mystery continued to be a -mystery to him. He wondered what Captain Bob was up to, whether he was -still following him and his friends and also whether the old man was -conducting an investigation of his own. His father came up the steps of -the porch. “What are you brooding about, son?” he asked. - -“Oh, nothing much,” was the answer. “Just thinking.” - -Dr. Morrison looked askance at his son. “Well,” he commented, “let’s -hope you are really thinking and not pretending you are thinking.” - -“W-w-what was that you said?” gasped Paul. - -But Dr. Morrison laughed softly and walked into the house. Paul got out -of his seat and walked off. Jack was busy tinkering with his father’s -car. He looked up and called out, “Hello, Paul. Anything new?” - -Paul sat down on the box of tools. “A little,” he answered nonchalantly. - -Jack wiped his greasy hands. “What do you mean.” - -“I saw Mr. Grey.” Jack opened his eyes wide and stared at his friend. -“And I spoke to him, too,” he added. - -Jack sat down on the running board. “Well, go on, tell me. What -happened?” he asked anxiously. - -Paul related the events. Jack listened attentively. Finally he -muttered, “So! Does all that help any?” - -Paul shrugged his shoulders. “Very little. But at least I now have a -good idea of the sort of person he is.” A pause. “Captain Bob spoke to -me,” he announced. - -“What does he want? How did you see him?” - -“He stopped me in the street. He wants to know what we are doing and -how we are getting along.” - -“A shrewd, clever fellow, that Captain Bob,” was Jack’s appraisal. -“He is aware that we know something which we won’t tell him and he is -trying to get it out of us.” - -“I was wondering,” remarked Paul, “whether it wouldn’t be better to -tell him and see what happens.” - -“What good will that do?” - -“None that I can see, but ...” - -“But what?” - -“Nothing. Let’s forget that angle of it and think what to do?” - -“I know what I am going to do,” announced Jack. - -“What?” - -“The same as I did last night. I am going to follow Mr. Grey.” He eyed -his companion. “And you?” he asked. - -“I haven’t decided yet. Guess I’ll go home now.” - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -A HUNCH - - -Paul, however, did not go home. On the way he changed his mind and -went to the library instead. He went to the back of the room and pored -over the newspaper files of the past few months. About an hour later -he left the library. He had a hunch which gave him a new track to work -on. He had a slip of paper in his hand and he looked on the writing on -it several times until he memorized it. Then he tore the slip of paper -into minute scraps and disposed of it. - -Immediately after supper, he went out of the house and walked off. He -had a definite destination in mind. At Corral Street, which was two -blocks from Water Street, he set about looking for a particular number. -That led him about half a mile away from the place of the former fire, -which coincided with his hunch. He came upon the number he was looking -for. The house was a two story dwelling, set away from the sidewalk. At -the gate was a sign: - - JONES & JONES - REALTORS - HOUSE FOR RENT - -Paul walked around the block and looked over the neighborhood. It was -a similarly poor section of the town. Coming back to the empty house, -he sneaked into the yard and walked to the rear of the house. Unable -to find a good location from which he could watch anyone approaching -or entering the house, he retreated a short distance and took up a -position behind the gate and sheltered by some shrubbery. From his -vantage point, he could not only see anyone approaching the house, but -also keep a sharp watch at those passing along the street. - -It was already dusk. Paul settled himself, getting as comfortable as -possible. There was nothing else to do but wait and see. Perhaps his -hunch was a good one, and on the other hand, perhaps a very poor one, -he thought to himself. At any rate, he had nothing to lose by going -through with it. - -Time dragged on. He watched the sky become grayer and darker. The moon -rose and the first star came out. Night came on gradually. In spite of -himself, he began to fidget and become impatient. Was something going -to happen or wasn’t it? He went over in his mind the hunch that he had -and tried to figure out how reasonable it was. At least to himself it -appeared reasonable. He wondered, however, what Jack or Ken might think -of it. It was no use doing that, he told himself, because he had not -spoken to them about it. The next moment he was sorry he hadn’t done -it. Two heads, three heads are always better than one and they might -have seen things about this which had not occurred to him. He felt his -eyelids become heavy and tired and he closed his eyes for a second. -Only a second. He had to keep watch, he told himself. But even though -he fought against it, he did fall sound asleep as he waited. He dreamed -a hodge podge in which Mr. Grey, Captain Bob, Ken and Jack were all -setting fire to a house, laughing gleefully. When he awoke he felt -ashamed of himself for not keeping the watch. - -He took up his position again and resumed his watching. How could -he fall asleep like that, he asked himself. And he flushed with -embarrassment to have committed such an act. For all he knew, somebody -may have been here and was gone again. He looked at his watch. Nine -o’clock. He had been sleeping for almost an hour. He held his breath -and listened. Nothing. For about five minutes he watched the house and -the street. Except for an occasional bypasser, nothing happened. He -crept out of his hiding and looked all around the house. Nothing seemed -to have happened, nobody seemed to have been there. Calling himself a -fool, he decided to give up his watch and to go off. - -He walked along and meditated upon his foolish hunch. Is it a foolish -one, though, he asked himself. If nothing happened tonight, does that -mean that there is no basis for my suspicion? Is it not possible that -something may happen tomorrow night, or the night after? He stopped in -his tracks and thought, suppose something should happen there now, just -after I left? For a second he felt that he should turn around and take -up his vigil again. He took several steps ahead but then turned around -and walked back. - -He came to the house. From across the street, he let his eyes roam -about the place to see if anything might have happened. Nothing -stirred. All seemed to be still and quiet. He went around the block, -skipped across a fence and came up from the back of the house. Moving -along noiselessly, he crept along the yard. He had made up his mind to -go once again all around the house and investigate. Suddenly he caught -his breath and flattened himself on the ground, midst the wild tall -grasses. He saw a shadow coming around the corner of the house. The -man, for such it was wore dark clothes and a slouch hat pulled down -over the forehead. Like a shadow, the man moved along the wall. Every -few seconds he stopped and looked and listened. There was something -familiar about that man, Paul thought. He held his breath and watched, -his eyes glued to the moving figure. The next instant he smiled to -himself. - -The man came to the front of the house, quickly ran across and -disappeared behind the wall. Paul got off the ground and sprinted -forward. Ducking around the corner of the house, he saw the back of -the man, who seemed to be hesitating, undecided as to his next course -of action. Paul moved forward on tiptoes. Coming up from behind, he -touched the man, who jumped as though touched by an electric spark, -“It’s only I, Captain Bob.” - -He smiled. The old man stared into his face and for several seconds was -speechless. “You—you certainly gave me a scare, boy,” he muttered. - -“I’m sorry,” apologized Paul, “but I thought it was so funny to find -you groping around here that—” - -Captain Bob grabbed him by the arm and pulled him around to the back of -the house. Shaking a finger under the boy’s nose, he muttered, “You! -You young upstart! Scaring me like that and thinking it’s funny.” His -severity melted and he smiled. “I should imagine it would be funny,” he -said, “but what brings you here, my boy?” - -Paul smiled. He had not yet gotten over the humor of the situation. -“I imagine that we both came here on the same hunch,” he informed the -captain. - -“How do you know that my hunch is the same as yours? Tell me that.” - -“Suppose you tell me your hunch and I’ll tell you mine, Captain Bob,” -he said. “And I’ll wager they are both the same.” - -“I asked you first,” replied the old man. “If it is the same, I won’t -hesitate to say so.” - -“Well,” began Paul, “I happened to be looking through the newspaper -files of the last two months and I noticed that three out of the last -four fires occurred at houses belonging to the Jones and Jones realty -company. The papers also mentioned several addresses of other houses of -theirs, and I picked this one to look things over.” - -“But why should there be anything suspicious about that?” asked the -shrewd old man. - -“I thought that possibly somebody had a grudge against the realty -company or against one of the Joneses. So I thought I might as well do -a little investigation.” - -Captain Bob wobbled his head. “You young pups!” he muttered. “There -is no getting away from you. Did I hear you say that you want to be a -doctor?” - -“Yes. I am going away to college in September. Jack and I, both of us -are going to study to be doctors.” - -“Well, I don’t know about your friend Jack, but I think you ought to -study to be a detective.” - -“Then I guessed?” cried Paul. - -“You certainly did,” was the answer. “And let’s walk away before -someone sees us. You go first and wait for me at the end of the street.” - -Paul obeyed. He sprinted across the yard and over the fence and walked -away. Two minutes later, Captain Bob joined him and he related to the -old man his experience of that night and how he had already walked off -and then returned. “I thought for a while that the hunch was a very -poor one,” he concluded. - -“No,” answered the captain. “On the contrary, it was a most logical -one. Have you done any more investigations along this line?” - -Paul became wary. He realized that again Captain Bob was trying to -elicit information from him. He shook his head. “Not much,” was his -answer. - -“Well, just keep it up. Perhaps if we continue we may yet catch the -culprit.” - -“I hope so,” remarked Paul. - -Soon after they separated, Captain Bob saying that he was going home -and Paul seriously intended to do the same. In front of his own home, -he paused and leaned against the gate. Ken crossed the street and came -up to him. “Say, where have you been all evening?” inquired the latter. - -“Oh, just following up a hunch of mine.” - -“What sort of hunch?” - -“Tell you about it later. Did you see Jack?” - -“No and he isn’t home either because I went over to call him.” - -Paul leaned against the fence and mused. The wind pushed a piece of -paper against his leg. Bending down to pull it away, he suddenly -remembered something. “Come on,” he said to his friend. - -“Where to?” asked Ken. - -“To that house which Jack showed us this morning.” - -“What for? It is kind of late, too. Almost ten o’clock.” - -“We will be back shortly. Come on.” - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -A BUMP ON THE HEAD - - -That same night Jack was impatient to be through with supper, and -immediately after, he left his house and hiked down to Jones Street. -He didn’t know exactly what to expect, nor was he sure that anything -at all was going to happen. He thought that it would be best to stick -around and if Mr. Grey came out of his hiding, to follow him. It was -now four days after the fire on Water Street and something was bound to -happen in the immediate future. But what, or how, or when, was still a -mystery to him. - -Jack took along with him a brown sweater. He thought that if there -was any need for it, he would put it on, and thus be able to change -his appearance, if only slightly. He had the sweater wrapped up in a -package under his arm. That too would make a slight difference in his -appearance—first carrying a package and later being without one. - -He took the same position as the day before and he did not have to wait -long for darkness to come. It was already dusk when he came to Jones -Street. Just as soon as it was dark enough, he changed his place by -coming forward and hiding behind the chassis of a wrecked car. That -secured for him a better view of the street as well as the corner. - -Watchful waiting—that was his task. But how long? Wasn’t Mr. Grey ever -coming out? Was he to be disappointed tonight? He glanced at his watch; -it was five minutes after nine. He saw the stars come out one by one in -the sky and the moon come up on the horizon. In the street and around -the corner there seemed to be very little activity. People passed up -and down but he was not interested in them. Soon he saw the grocery man -emerge and lock up his store. - -Jack waited and watched, counting each minute. Time hung heavy on his -hands. He began to wish, as he had the day before that he had never -bothered with it at all, but the next instant he thought differently. -He was in it and he meant to stick it through; he would not give it up -just because he was impatient. It was quite possible, he thought to -himself that Mr. Grey would not attempt one of his usual jaunts through -the town. After all, one could not expect things to happen every night. -It was quite possible that Mr. Grey had become suspicious, that he -had actually become aware that he was being followed. Anything was -possible, he thought to himself. - -Ten minutes passed, fifteen minutes, twenty minutes—and still nothing -happened. Gradually, Jack became convinced that Mr. Grey was not -coming out tonight. Suddenly it occurred to him that perhaps he had -come too late. He remembered that the day before Mr. Grey had ventured -forth at about six-thirty. And tonight he had not arrived there until -about seven-thirty. He nodded to himself and thought that no doubt -he had come too late. But what to do now and where to look first? He -certainly could not just walk around town and look for his man; that -would probably be futile. He debated with himself whether to go to -Water Street, to the site of the last fire or to go to the house where -he had followed Mr. Grey the night before. He decided on the latter -course and off he went. - -Peace and darkness shrouded the house. Jack walked up and down several -times on the wrong side of the street. Then, growing bold he dashed -across the street and into the yard. Not thinking it wise to approach -the house, he crept noiselessly along the fence and all around the -yard. There seemed to be not a soul around; except for the wind, -nothing else seemed to stir. He approached the wall of the house and -tried to peek into a window. But it was dark and, naturally, he saw -nothing. - -Cautiously, Jack approached the front of the house. Suddenly he stopped -and held his breath. He heard a slight rumbling noise. He listened -closely. Again the same noise. “Mice or rats,” he told himself. He -moved forward again then, flattening himself out against the wall, he -waited. A woman passed down the street. He took out his searchlight -which he was now glad he had brought, and moved forward again to the -front of the house. Putting his hand on the knob, he turned it and the -door opened slightly. Wondering how it was that the hinges, probably -rusty, did not squeak, he pushed the door wider open. - -He flashed his light on and stepped quickly into the hall and closed -the door behind him. He threw a beam of light on the papers which Paul -had pointed out to him; they were still there, in the same spot and -untouched. Again he thought he heard a slight rumbling noise. Backing -up close against the wall, he listened. Yes, there it was again. -Rats or mice, he thought to himself. For a fraction of a second he -hesitated. What was he doing in here, he asked himself. Did he expect -to find Mr. Grey in the house? If so, what would he do if he did? -Beside, Paul, Ken and he had been in the house only that morning. - -Brushing aside all the doubts in his mind, he tiptoed along the hall. -He passed one door, the second door. He retraced his steps and threw -a beam of light upon the stairway. Suddenly he felt a sharp blow on -the back of his head. His knees gave way and before he crashed to the -floor, he sensed a figure fleeing past him and out through the door. As -he fell to the floor he saw a million colored stars converging upon his -eyes. Innumerable distorted thoughts flashed through his mind. Then -darkness and he knew no more. - -Jack opened his eyes and through a haze saw two figures hovering over -him. He reached to the back of his head and writhed with pain. Somebody -was bending over him and talking but he could not understand what he -was saying; it sounded like buzzing in his ears. He closed his eyes and -relaxed. Very suddenly he sat up and looked around. He rubbed his eyes, -then the back of his head; he felt a large bump there and touching it -made him shiver with pain. “How are you, old boy?” somebody was asking -him. - -The person bending over him, murmured softly, “How do you feel, Jack -old boy?” - -The mist before his eyes cleared and in the darkness he made out Paul -on his knees in front of him and a short distance away, Ken. He turned -his head and he noticed that he was in the open. “W-w-where am I?” he -asked, his face distorted with pain as he touched the bump on the back -of his head. - -“You’re all right,” Paul assured him. “Just tell me how you feel. Any -broken bones?” he asked, smiling. - -Jack felt himself all over, and answered, “No, I guess not.” Looking -into his friend’s smiling face, he also grinned, “Just where am I and -what happened to me?” he asked curiously. - -“What happened to you, I don’t know; you will have to tell us that. -But I can tell you where we are. We are in the yard of—” - -“Yes, I know,” interrupted Jack. He now remembered the house, where -he had been socked on the head. Rising to his feet, he felt a little -wobbly. Paul supported him. “Let’s go away from here,” he said -dejectedly. - -Paul laughed. “Nobody will attack us,” he said. - -They walked off. Jack was flanked on either side by Paul and Ken. After -a short silence, Jack asked, “How did you come to be there? And tell me -what happened, will you?” - -“You’d better tell us what happened,” asserted Ken. “We found you there -stretched out horizontally. Some bump you have, too.” - -Jack touched the wound and groaned with pain. “It’s nothing much,” said -Paul. “You’ll live a long time yet.” - -Paul and Ken laughed. But Jack couldn’t see what was so funny. Ken -said, “Come on, tell us what happened.” - -“That’s just it,” protested Jack, “I wish I knew myself. The last thing -I can remember is that I got an awful wallop on the back of the head -and sock! I was out.” - -“Who was that person we saw running away from the house?” asked Paul. - -Jack stopped in his tracks. “Running away!” he exclaimed. “Who? What? -When?” - -“Ken and I,” Paul explained, “were coming up the street. We were about -ten feet from the house, when we saw somebody dash out of the yard and -down toward the other end of the street. We thought there might be -something wrong so we investigated.” - -“And we found you,” added Ken. - -“He must have been the fellow who socked you on the head,” concluded -Paul. - -“Well, why didn’t one of you go after him?” demanded Jack. - -“Somebody had to take care of you, didn’t they?” questioned Paul. - -“By then it was too late,” added Ken. - -Jack began to walk back toward the house. “Come on,” he said, “we’re -going back and see what happened.” - -“What for?” asked Paul. “We looked and didn’t see a thing.” - -Jack felt his pockets. “Besides,” he added, “my flashlight must be -somewhere there in the hall.” - -“No. Here it is,” said Ken, taking it out of his pocket. - -But Jack insisted on going back to the house and they did. Ken was left -outside on guard while the other two entered the house. They found the -first door in the hall open. The dust on the floor was stirred by many -footprints but there was nothing else visible in the room. The two -returned to the hall and searched but they found nothing. “I wonder -who it was that socked me like that?” muttered Jack. - -“It’s no use wondering because you can only guess,” asserted Paul. “My -own opinion is that some stray individual happened to be in here when -you entered and just as your back was turned, he hit you on the head -and escaped. That’s all.” - -“But why? Why?” demanded Jack. “And what was he doing here?” - -“How should I know? And since there is nothing else we can do here, -let’s go.” - -Joining Ken, they walked off and went home. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -DISCOVERY - - -Ken was saying, “It is rather strange that somebody should have been in -that house when it is supposed to be empty and deserted.” - -“But why?” demanded Paul. “Being empty and unoccupied, anybody might -walk in and look around.” - -“Very true,” commented Jack, “but why should he sock me, that’s -something I can’t understand.” He put his hand behind his head and -winced with pain. “Suppose,” he continued, “some person does stray into -the house and while he is there I enter. Does that mean that he has -to bang me on the head and run away? It is not logical. There must be -something to it.” - -“You may be right,” conceded Paul, “but somehow it doesn’t strike me -so. By the way, did I tell you fellows how I ran into Captain Bob last -night and almost scared him to death?” - -“No,” cried Ken. “Tell us.” - -Paul narrated his last night’s adventure. The boys laughed heartily at -the thought of Captain Bob being scared out of his wits. He also told -them that the captain had also had the same hunch as he. Then he asked, -“What do you fellows think of it?” - -Jack merely shrugged his shoulders, manifesting his lack of opinion. -Ken, however, said, “It sounds quite logical to me.” - -“Logic does not always prove anything,” remarked Paul. - -Jack jumped out of his seat and snapped his fingers. “I have an idea,” -he cried. - -“Tell us,” said Ken. - -“What is it?” asked Paul. - -“It is something I couldn’t exactly explain; it’s just something I -feel—a hunch. Come on, we’re going back to that empty house.” - -“But what for?” demanded Paul. “We have been there several times and we -have found no clues or anything.” - -“Well, we’re going back and look again.” - -Jack disappeared into the house and a minute later came out carrying -his flashlight and as baseball bat. “What is the bat for?” asked Ken. - -“Just in case of anything,” was the answer. “I’m not taking chances any -more.” - -The boys rocked with laughter, Jack joining in. “You think you’re going -to hit somebody with that thing?” questioned Ken, still laughing. - -“I suppose the fellow who hit you is waiting there for you to even -things up,” commented Paul. - -“You fellows can laugh all you want,” said Jack, “but I’m taking it -along just the same. Come on.” - -They were on their way. Jack said, “Paul, you and I are going into the -house, while you, Ken, are going to hide outside and give us the usual -signal in case you see somebody suspicious coming up the street or -about to enter the house.” - -“And what are we going to do?” asked Paul. - -“You and I are going into that first room and investigate. If there is -anything to be found, somehow I feel convinced that it will be found in -that room. I have only one reason for it. When I was hit on the head I -had my back to that door. Therefore the person who hit me came out of -that room.” - -“That sounds reasonable,” remarked Paul. “But I, on the contrary, have -no illusions about finding any clues there. It seems to me that we went -over every inch of ground in that room.” - -“You are wrong, Paul,” contradicted Jack. “All we did was merely look -around. We did not make a real search of the room.” - -The boys came to the house. All three of them made sure of a good -location for Ken to hide and keep watch. When that was done, Paul -and Jack entered the house and closed the door behind them. “Now,” -whispered Jack, “Let’s open the door of this first room and examine -it.” Jack did so and swung the door back and forth on its hinges. -“Notice something?” he asked his chum. - -“I most certainly do, Jack. This is very suspicious.” - -“What is it you notice?” asked Jack. - -“Why, the movement of the door swinging on its hinges; it’s noiseless. -Isn’t that what you mean?” - -“Yes. The hinges must be well oiled and that is why I did not hear -when the door was opened and I was hit on the head. Under normal -circumstances, the hinges should be rusty and there should be plenty of -squeaking every time the door is swung open.” - -“You are right, Jack. But I still don’t see what your hunch is.” - -“Let’s just wait and see. I don’t know exactly what it is myself yet. I -can only make a wild guess. Let’s go into the room.” - -They entered and closed the door behind them. They had no use for their -flashlights because the room had a window in each corner wall, and -it was now early morning, about ten o’clock. “Notice another thing,” -remarked Jack. “The windows—they are all in perfect shape.” - -“That’s right, but that is nothing extraordinary. It is possible that -the last tenant had moved out only recently.” - -“Well, that doesn’t matter so much. Shall we first thoroughly go over -the walls or the floor?” - -Paul looked about for several seconds before he answered. “I think we -had better do the floor first.” They looked down. “You know,” continued -Paul, “I am somehow beginning to get a hunch like you have. I can’t -exactly explain it, but—” - -Jack interrupted, crying enthusiastically, “Do you really mean that? -Because then—” - -Paul held up a finger to his lips and cautioned, “Sh! Not so loud. -Walls have ears, you know, and all that.” Both of them crouched down. -“Do you notice something odd about the dust on the floor?” he asked. - -“Yes,” replied Jack. “I noticed it the first time we were here but I -forgot to mention it. There seems to be very little dust on this floor -compared to the other rooms.” - -“That is right. Now you begin at the other end of the room and I will -begin at this end of the room. Examine every single plank of wood and -see if it lifts out of the floor.” - -“That was my intention exactly,” whispered Jack. “You are getting on to -my hunch perfectly.” - -Paul by now had become excited with the new turn of events and he was -eager to be doing something. “Less talk and more work,” he snapped at -his friend briskly. - -Jack smiled and moved away to his end of the floor. The boys -partitioned the floor in half and set to work with zest. They ran their -hands over the floor and tested each plank. Despite their eagerness and -rapid movements, it took them a long time. The two of them must have -been working close to an hour, and Paul was occupied now in front of -the window when he hissed across the room, “Jack, I have it!” - -Paul flushed with excitement. Jack raced across the room and joined his -friend. Paul had discovered a removable piece of wood about six inches -long by about three inches wide. He held it up in his hand. “Now!” he -whispered. He plunged his hand into the opening and pulled. But too -much effort was not necessary, the trap door opened easily. Jack was -ready to rush right down, but Paul, ever prudent and careful, grabbed -him by the arm and restrained him. “Wait a moment,” he whispered. -“Let’s make sure of things.” - -Paul went to the window and peeked out. He located Ken and saw the boy -on guard, his eyes roaming everywhere and on the alert. Jack had in -the meanwhile gone out into the hall. Paul now joined him and together -they looked through the house to make sure whether anyone was in there -or was watching them. Reassured at last, they returned to the room and -again pulled up the trap door. There were stairs leading down, but it -was dark below and Jack flashed on his light. From every appearance it -looked like an ordinary cellar. Paul whispered, “All right, let’s go -down. I’ll go first.” - -Jack nodded and his chum began to descend the stairs. He followed, -gripping his bat in his hand. Becoming conscious of the weapon, he -smiled to himself remembering how his friends joked at his taking it -along. Now, in case of anything, it would be very useful. - -Paul, who carried the flashlight, reached the bottom of the stairs and -waited for his chum. Jack joined him. Together they followed the beam -of light around the room. At one side was a printing press and quite a -bit of printing paraphernalia; in the center of the room was a table -and several chairs; against the walls were several boxes, a jacket and -a cap hung on a nail and from the ceiling there extended an electric -bulb. Jack whispered, “What do you make of it all?” - -Paul shrugged his shoulders. Again he threw a beam of light all around -the room. Satisfied with what he saw, he turned and motioned to his -friend that they leave. Jack shook his head. “No,” he whispered, “let’s -see exactly what they have here.” - -“Not now,” was the whispered reply. “Some other time.” - -He began to mount the stairs and Jack followed. They closed the trap -after them and replaced the piece of wood. Paul went over to the window -and peeked out. And it was a lucky thing that he did. Locating Ken on -the spot they had left him, he noticed the guard put his fingers to -his lips and whistle. But they could not hear the whistle because both -the door to the house and the door to the room were closed. Grabbing -Jack by the arm, he cried, “Hurry!” and dragged him out of the room. In -the hall they just managed to duck under the stairs as the door opened -and by the sound of the footsteps the boys guessed that two men had -entered. They heard a gruff voice mutter, “All right, we’ll do it.” - -The next instant they heard the second door open and close. Venturing -out from their hiding place, they listened carefully to the opening of -the trap door, one man descending, then the second man descending and -then, plop, the trap door closing again. The boys looked at each other. -Paul smiled while Jack wiped the perspiration off his forehead with -a muffled sigh of relief. Paul opened the door noiselessly and they -stepped out into the open. At a sign from Paul, Ken was in an instant -over the fence and away. A moment later Jack and Paul were out of the -yard and running down the street. - -They joined Ken at the end of the street. The two boys did not dare to -speak until they were some distance away from the empty house. Finally, -Jack, who couldn’t restrain himself any more, heaved a very audible -sigh of relief and exclaimed, “Boy! Was that a close shave! I’m so -nervous, my hands are shaking.” - -“What happened?” asked Ken who could see that something important had -transpired. - -“Let’s not talk now,” said Paul. “Wait until we get someplace where we -can’t be overheard.” He looked from one of his friends to the other. -“Don’t look so curious and excited,” he added. “Let’s discuss some -ordinary topic. Did you fix your dad’s car, Jack?” - -Jack looked at his chum and burst out laughing. Paul looked as calm -and unconcerned as though nothing had happened. “I’m glad to see you -fellows enjoying your fun,” remarked Ken. “But I wish you would tell me -the joke so I could also enjoy it and laugh.” - -That set both Jack and Paul laughing. “Pardon us, Ken,” said Paul. “But -there really is nothing to laugh about. That’s the joke. But we will -tell you all about it right away.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -A NEW TURN OF EVENTS - - -Jack stopped dead in his tracks. His two friends also stopped and faced -him. “What is it?” asked Paul. - -“I was just wondering,” answered Jack, “whether we shouldn’t go back -there, watch until those two leave and then go down there again.” - -“Go down where?” asked Ken; they had not yet told him of the cellar -they had discovered. - -Paul shook his head. “No,” he said. “We have had enough for one day. -And then, I want some time to think this thing over and try to piece -everything together. Let’s go to Ken’s garage where we can have some -privacy.” - -“You really think we shouldn’t go back?” asked Jack. - -“Yes, I’m convinced.” - -“Don’t mind me,” said Ken as the three of them continued walking. “I’m -only an ornament among the three of us.” - -“Don’t be so impatient,” said Paul. “Wait. We’ll tell you everything.” - -They came to Ken’s garage and sat down on boxes. Paul related what had -happened. Several times Ken gasped in astonishment. When the story was -finally ended, Paul commented, “But what puzzles me is how all the -incidents fit together. The fires, Mr. Grey, Jack getting bumped on -the head, Captain Bob, where do all these facts fit in?” - -“As far as Captain Bob is concerned, you can leave him out of it,” -commented Jack. “No matter what it is all about, I’m quite sure he is -an innocent party.” - -“Yes,” said Ken. “As chief of the fire department he naturally would be -interested in why there are an unusually large number of fires.” - -“All right, suppose we agree that Captain Bob is out of it,” said Paul, -“what about all the other facts. How does Mr. Grey fit in, for example?” - -“Yes, how does he fit in?” asked Ken. “Isn’t it possible that what you -stumbled on today has nothing to do with all the other incidents?” - -“It may sound all right,” remarked Jack, “but I don’t think so. For -example, by now I am convinced that the fellow who hit me came out of -that cellar.” - -“But why should he run away?” questioned Paul. “Why couldn’t he have -made you a prisoner, as that would be a more natural thing to do?” - -“Perhaps,” argued Jack. “But if he had, he would have had to take me -down in the cellar. Now suppose he blindfolds me, still I might hear -something they say. I might escape and inform the police. My opinion -is that he hit me and ran away, hoping that the blow on the head would -scare me so that I would never return.” - -His two companions nodded. “Suppose we accept that as the real reason. -Where does everything else fit in? What are they doing with a printing -press down there? They shouldn’t have to hide that.” - -“But the mere fact that they are hiding it is proof that they are doing -something illegal,” commented Ken. - -His two companions repeated the word, “Illegal! Illegal!” - -Jack began to walk up and down, his chin in his hand and deep in -thought. The other two were also silent and thinking hard. Jack picked -up an old newspaper from the floor. Suddenly he dropped the paper, -jumped high into the air and cried frantically, “I have it! I have it!” - -His two friends leaped out of their seats, and ran up to him. “Well!” -demanded Paul, for once impatient and curious. “What is the answer?” - -“The answer is,” whispered Jack and then paused, “Counterfeiters!” he -whispered. - -Ken jumped into the air enthusiastically. “That’s right!” he cried. -“That’s right!” - -Paul smiled with satisfaction. Putting an arm around Jack, he said, “It -sounds very reasonable. Counterfeiters have to use a printing press. -And counterfeiters do something illegal and therefore have to hide.” He -nodded his head. “Sounds very logical.” - -They returned to their seats. “But,” continued Paul, “even if we grant -the fact that they are counterfeiters, how do all the other incidents -fit in? The fires and Mr. Grey for example?” - -“Must they fit in?” inquired Ken. - -“They don’t have to,” was Paul’s reply, “but I have a notion that they -do.” - -Jack nodded and agreed with his chum. “I feel the same way about it,” -he said. “It is very possible that what we have discovered today has -absolutely nothing to do with the fires or Mr. Grey. But somehow I have -a feeling that there is some connection. But I can’t say what.” - -“But if there is some sort of a connection between all these facts, how -do you think they fit in?” asked Paul. - -Jack shook his head. Ken said, “Suppose we begin from the very -beginning. I mean from the time you came upon the house, Jack. Now, was -it not Mr. Grey who led you to the house?” - -“Yes. And then he sneaked around in the back and scared me half to -death.” - -“All right. Now if he had anything to do with the counterfeiters do you -think he would have led you to that very house he wants you to keep -away from? If he were a member of that gang of counterfeiters and he -knew you were following him, don’t you think he would lead you to some -other part of town?” - -Paul said, “That may sound logical, but the opposite may also sound -logical. For example, if we concede that the fellow who hit Jack on -the head and then ran away did it to frighten him so that he would -keep away from there, why can’t we say the same thing about Mr. Grey? -Is it not possible that Mr. Grey knew he was being followed and -purposely led Jack to that very house, then sneaked up behind him to -frighten him so that he would never return? Isn’t that very plausible?” - -“Say,” cried Jack, “if what you say is true, that fellow certainly made -a mistake.” - -“And how!” echoed Ken. - -“Now if we know all that,” continued Paul, “that makes Mr. Grey a -member of the gang of counterfeiters.” - -“But what about the fires? And leading Betty away. And those white -cards, what about them? And the robbery at Professor Link’s?” - -The boys looked at each other very glumly. “The whole thing is like a -crazy jigsaw puzzle,” muttered Paul. - -“Telling me!” mumbled Ken. “It has already given me a headache. The -thing worries me so, I can’t sleep nights.” - -The boys laughed at the manner in which Ken said it. “You have to -sleep,” remarked Jack. “Otherwise how are we going to solve this jigsaw -puzzle of a mystery?” - -The boys sat around and brooded. Three minds with one thought—how to -solve the mystery; how all the details fitted into the general picture. -They were so silent and lost in thought that they were not at all -aware of Ken’s little sister Betty approaching and regarding them with -surprise. She stood rooted in one spot and stared at her brother and -his two friends. Finally she couldn’t bear it any longer. She opened -her mouth wide and cried suddenly, “Boo!” The boys jumped as though -they were shot. Reassured again, they smiled heaving sighs of relief. -“Mother says you should come to dinner,” she said. - -“Dinner!” exclaimed Ken. “Is it time for dinner already?” - -All three simultaneously looked at their watches. “My, how time flies,” -mumbled Jack. “Twelve-thirty already.” - -Mrs. Armstrong came to the porch and called, “Betty!” - -“I’m right here, Mother,” cried the child. And she ran to the porch. - -“Did you find Ken?” - -“He is at the garage. And Jack and Paul too.” - -“Tell them all to come in; lunch is ready.” - -The boys entered the house. Paul and Jack telephoned home that they -were having lunch with Ken. At the table, in the midst of the meal, -Jack almost choked as he thought of something. “Hurry up, fellows,” he -whispered. “I’ve just thought of something important.” - -“Can’t you at least eat without thinking?” mocked Ken. - -“Yes, take it easy,” was Paul’s advice. - -“Choke easy, you mean,” corrected Ken. - -“Stop all that talk,” spoke up Jack, “and hurry up and finish. I want -to get out and talk this thing over.” - -As soon as they were through with their meal, the boys retreated to the -garage again. “Now what is it?” asked Paul. - -“It is something that I thought of just as soon as we got into the -cellar,” replied Jack, “but it slipped my mind and I forgot to mention -it.” - -“Well, what is it?” asked Ken. “Don’t keep us in suspense.” - -“It’s this. When we descended the stairs into the cellar, Paul, it -occurred to me that if the police cornered the gang of counterfeiters -in that cellar, how would they manage to escape?” - -“They wouldn’t,” was Ken’s opinion. - -“Suppose you were one of the gang, wouldn’t you think of such a -possibility and make sure of an exit, of a means of escape?” - -“Certainly.” - -“Then that means, that probably there is another entrance or exit into -that cellar.” - -“That’s right,” said Paul. “I’m glad you thought of it. It is something -we should have thought of at once.” - -“Oh I wish you didn’t,” said Ken, pretending that he was in tears, -“because that only adds another item in the puzzle to solve.” - -“Which isn’t going to be very easy.” - -“No, it certainly won’t.” - -“Let’s come down to earth now,” remarked Jack, “and think in terms of -action. What are we going to do now? What should be our plan of action -from now on? Can you think of anything, Paul?” - -For a short while, there was silence. At last Paul ventured to -suggest, “We might, for example, give up following Mr. Grey; at least -temporarily. Then we have to watch that house and get to know the men -entering and leaving and determine as well as we can who the members of -the gang are.” - -“I was just thinking of something,” remarked Ken. “Do you remember, -Paul, how hostile the grocery man was and how he squirmed out of giving -you any information about Mr. Grey?” - -“Yes, what about it?” - -“Well, it just occurred to me, that the man must know something if he -is so anxious to conceal it.” - -“Hmm!” muttered Jack. - -“Another thing,” continued Ken. “Isn’t it true, Jack, that each time -you followed Mr. Grey, it seemed to you that he emerged from that -corner house, the house in which the store is situated?” - -“That’s right. What are you driving at?” - -Ken scratched his head. “I feel this way about it,” he said, “that most -likely that corner house is owned or at least rented by the grocery -man. Now if Mr. Grey comes out of that house, he must live there.” His -two companions leaned forward and listened to him attentively. They -suspected that what he was saying might be very valuable. He continued, -“Therefore, if Mr. Grey lives in that house, the grocery man must know -him; under ordinary circumstances, he would have no reason to say that -he didn’t know Mr. Grey. It therefore follows that either he knows that -Mr. Grey is a crook or possibly he himself is somehow involved in the -situation.” - -The boys gasped. The reasonableness and logic of Ken’s statement was -beyond question. Yet how true was it? If it were true, another missing -link was being added to the already complicating puzzle. “Then why,” -asked Jack, “should the woman have mentioned the name Mr. Grey when you -entered the store and asked for information Ken?” - -Paul answered, “That’s simple. If we assume that what Ken said is true, -the grocery man’s wife knows nothing of her husband’s operations and -very innocently gave away the name.” - -“Yes, that’s right,” agreed Ken. - -“That only makes it worse,” muttered Jack. - -Again the group became silent. They would hit upon an idea, discuss it -rapidly and then they would brood for a while. Jack leaped to his feet. -“Let’s do something,” he cried. - -Paul rose. “I for one,” he said, “am going home and I suggest you do -the same. That will calm us down. Then we will meet again after supper -and—do something.” - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -FOLLOWING UP THEIR CLUES - - -Jack was restless, excited. The mystery had him upset. While Paul and -Ken each went to their respective homes, Jack loitered along Main -Street. Not that he hoped to do anything or come upon any clues; he -merely didn’t feel like going home. He walked down as far as Jones -Street and again investigated the neighborhood. Returning to the -corner, he went into the store and on the pretense that he was buying a -small box of chocolate wafers, he let his eyes wander about the place. -But there was nothing especial to see; it was the same as any other -ordinary grocery. The woman was in the store and she appeared to be a -mild sort of person. Considering it unwise to ask any questions or seek -any information from her, he paid for his wafers and left. - -He munched as he walked along. Thinking hard for some plan of action, -he couldn’t come to any definite decision. Finally he concluded that -Paul was right—he should go home and let the matter rest for a while. -Quickening his pace, he walked home and busied himself with tasks about -the house. - -After supper, the three boys met at Paul’s home. They sat down on -the porch and waited for someone to speak first. Paul finally spoke -up and said, “Right now, I think, we have to look into two angles of -the situation. One of us should go down to Jones Street and watch the -grocery man. The other two should go back to that empty house and see -what happens there.” - -“How about you going down to Jones Street?” asked Jack. “You spoke to -the grocery man and you know what he looks like.” - -“That suits me. You and Ken, in the meanwhile, will watch the empty -house.” - -“How about that other angle of yours, Paul? The one about watching -out for a fire at some house owned by the Jones and Jones real estate -company,” commented Ken. “I think it’s a good hunch that we ought to -follow up.” - -“I think we can drop it for tonight at any rate and see what happens,” -answered Paul. “Let’s go.” - -They walked off the porch and headed for Main Street. “So long,” called -Paul, and waved. - -“Good luck,” returned Jack. - -“We’ll be seeing you,” said Ken. - -Jack and Ken walked off together. “It’s a little early yet, don’t you -think?” asked Ken. - -Jack looked at his watch; it was not quite seven-thirty. “Yes,” he -answered. “But we will go down there anyhow and see.” - -They walked past the house as though they were ordinary pedestrians. -Coming to the railroad tracks, they turned around and walked back -through the street on which the back of the house faced. It was eight -o’clock now but it was still daylight. So they decided to walk around -the block once more and as far as the railroad tracks. As soon as -it became dusk, they returned to the house and took up different -positions. Jack hid himself directly behind the fence overlooking the -front of the house; Ken, on the other hand, picked out a hiding place -at the rear of the house. The two were thus able to keep a watch all -around the house and at the same time be within reach of each other in -case of necessity. - -The boys watched the sky become gray and the stars come out; the -moon crept out of the horizon and night descended. Perfectly still, -noiseless, inconspicuous, the two kept guard. Every once in a while, -people passed up and down the street, and immediately Jack was on the -alert, anxious, impatient. But nothing happened and time dragged along. -Suddenly he heard the sound of a soft whistle and he turned his head to -locate Ken. Again the same soft whistle. Jack looked all around him, -then, very cautiously, he crept over to his friend. Ken had his ear to -the ground. Jack whispered, “What’s up?” - -Ken motioned for his friend to put his ear to the ground and Jack did -so. He flattened himself out and glued his ear to the ground. A slight -trembling of the earth came to his ears, accompanied by a steady, -muffled sound. For about five minutes both boys put their ears to the -ground and listened. Ken, although he guessed what it was, whispered, -“What do you think it is?” - -“The printing press.” - -Ken nodded. “I thought so too.” - -Jack whispered, “When did you first hear that sound?” he asked. - -“It seemed to begin only a short while ago.” - -The boys were silent, thinking hard. If the press had been operating -only a short while, then it was most logical to conclude that whoever -was in the cellar had come there recently, within the last thirty, -forty, fifty minutes. Yet the boys had been on guard for a full hour -and as far as they knew, no one had entered the house by the front -door. Jack, therefore, became more firmly convinced that there was -another door somewhere; that the cellar could be reached and left -perhaps some distance away from the house. Jack whispered, “I’m going -back.” - -Ken nodded. His friend crept away and again he was alone. Each one in -his own hiding place, they watched and waited, but nothing happened. -Overhead was the blue sky with the moon and the stars. All around them -was darkness. Their waiting and watching was in vain—at least so it -seemed. - -Another hour passed and still nothing happened. Ken lay with his ear to -the ground and occupied himself with listening to the hissing sound -that came out of the earth. Jack watched and waited but not a thing -stirred. He became restless and chafed with impatience. Finally he -wiggled over to Ken and also put his ear to the ground. Still that -hissing sound and the trembling of the earth. Ken whispered, “They must -be working hard down there.” - -Jack nodded and kept silent. Together they lay flat on the ground and -listened. Again it was Ken who whispered, “What do you say, you think -we ought to go? There is nothing doing here.” - -“No, let’s wait a short while more. I wonder what Paul is doing.” - -“Same here. I hope at least he has found something interesting to do. -This doing nothing is killing me.” - -Jack felt the same way about it. As a matter of fact, Jack was of more -impatient nature than Ken, but he felt it upon himself to urge his -friend on. “Take it easy and don’t lose your patience,” he whispered -back. “A thing like this takes time you know; plenty of time.” - -Again they fixed their ears to the ground. They remained like that for -a short time. Suddenly they pushed their ears deeper into the ground. -In the darkness, they looked at each other. “Do you hear what I hear?” -whispered Ken. - -“Yes, nothing.” - -“That’s right. They must have stopped the printing press.” - -“Yes. Now what?” - -Silence. The boys knitted their brows. If they had stopped their press, -Jack asked himself, would they be coming out of the cellar now? And if -they were, which door would they use? Possibly they would come out by -the front door because they might not care to use the same door for -an exit as well as an entrance. But if they did use the rear door how -would the boys find it? Jack looked around. It might be in either of -three directions, he reasoned to himself—on either sides of the house -or to the rear; to the front was the sidewalk and street, which would -be a most improbable means for a tunnel or other form of approach and -exit. “Stay here,” he whispered to Ken. “I’m going back to my place. We -will stay here another half hour, and if nothing happens, I have other -plans.” - -“What?” - -“I’ll tell you later.” - -Jack crept back to his hiding place. With nothing else to do but to -wait and watch he again became conscious of the darkness and of time -dragging. There was utter stillness and he could hear himself breathe; -the tick of his watch in his pocket sounded extraordinarily loud. He -waited. A few pedestrians passed by. He waited some more. He counted -every minute. When the time was up a low muffled whistle issued from -his lips. He turned his head and saw Ken creep out of his place. -Together they sneaked out of the yard and walked off. Ken asked, -“Well, what are your other plans?” - -“I was thinking,” said Jack, “that they must have another way of -getting in and out—” - -“Yes, you mentioned that once before.” - -“Well, what I was really trying to determine is where that other -entrance might be. Now, logically, it can be at any one of three -places. There might be a tunnel leading away from the cellar of the -house on either side or at the rear. What we have to do, therefore, is -to examine those three possibilities.” - -“But we can’t do much tonight,” remarked Ken. “For one thing it’s dark -and there isn’t much we can see. And secondly, it’s late already.” - -“That’s very true, but I certainly would like to get an idea of how the -land lays.” - -“We can leave that for tomorrow. Now I think we ought to go over and -see if Paul is waiting for us.” - -“That’s right. I almost forgot about him. I wonder if he came across -anything.” - -“Well, I only hope that he didn’t have to spend such a dull time as we -did,” was Ken’s comment. - -“You have to take things as they come,” answered Jack. “Sometimes there -is plenty to do and at other times there is nothing to do.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -PAUL GETS INTO TROUBLE - - -Ken and Jack came to Paul’s house but they saw their friend nowhere -around. “You think he is in the house?” asked Ken. - -“No. He would be waiting for us on the porch.” - -“What will we do, then? Where will we wait for him?” - -“Let’s wait for him in front of your gate, Ken. He ought to be coming -any minute, I suppose.” - -The boys leaned against the fence, talking in low tones to while -the time away. They were impressed before with how hard it is to be -patient, but now it was doubly hard. For it seemed that Paul was not -coming. They waited thirty minutes, an hour, an hour and thirty minutes -and still no Paul. Jack was actually becoming worried that something -had happened to his chum. Ken suggested several times, “Perhaps he is -home. Do you think we ought to try to find out? Though it’s a little -too late to ring the bell.” - -But Jack knew better; he knew his chum. If Paul had returned before -they did, he would have waited for them on the porch; that was a -certainty. He would not have gone to bed until he had seen and spoken -to his friends and made sure that they were all right. Finally Jack -could not bear it any longer and he muttered, “I’m going to look for -him.” - -“I’m going with you,” said Ken with determination. “Where will we look -first?” - -“There are only two places where we can look—at Jones Street and then -that empty house.” - -“Where will we go first?” - -“What do you think?” - -They went down to Main Street, then they were undecided as to which -direction to take. Jack said, “Let’s toss a coin.” He drew a nickel out -of his pocket. “Heads we go to Jones Street; tails we go to that empty -house.” - -He tossed the coin into the air, caught it with his right hand and -slapped it down on his left wrist. Ken put his head close to see. Jack -removed his hand—it was tails up. “The empty house,” he whispered. - -When Paul started out early in the evening, he leisurely strolled along -Main Street until he came to his destination. There, he examined the -house on the corner from every possible view. It was a two story frame -house with the grocery occupying most of the ground floor; the rest of -the floor, Paul figured, were either closets or some form of storage -places. He was pretty sure there were no living quarters on the ground -floor. The people who occupied the house lived above the store. By -counting the windows—there were seven—he reasoned that there must be -either three or four rooms. The grocery man and his wife most likely -occupied one room, Mr. Grey another, and the children, if there were -any, the other one or two rooms. - -By now it had become dusk and Paul thought that it was time to take up -some hiding position and watch. The next moment he changed his mind. -Instead of hiding anywhere, he nonchalantly took up a position across -the street and pretended that he was waiting for someone. He didn’t -have to wait long. Pretty soon he saw Mr. Grey emerge from around the -corner and walk up Main Street. He wondered where the man was going and -what he might be up to. For several seconds he debated with himself -whether to follow him or to wait, as he had previously decided, for the -grocery man. He chose to wait. About fifteen minutes later he saw his -man come out from the rear of the house. “Very clever,” he thought to -himself. - -The grocery man came to the corner and stopped, looked around and then -walked off down Jones Street. Paul wanted to follow but on second -consideration he realized that the street was deserted and he would -instantly be noticed. He had a hunch, however, that the man’s walking -down Jones Street was done on purpose to detect anyone following. Paul -ran to the next parallel street and raced to come to the corner first. -He hid in a doorway and saw his man round the corner and continue -walking on the street parallel to Main Street. This part of the town -was rather empty and deserted. He therefore decided to let his man walk -at least two hundred and fifty yards ahead of him. - -Soon the street became busier, with many people strolling up and down. -Paul gradually narrowed the distance between himself and his man. They -came to about the centre of the town. Suddenly he caught his breath -and his heart began to beat rapidly. He saw Mr. Grey walking the other -way, and as the two men passed each other, there was a slight movement -of the head on the part of both of them. So they did know each other! -So there was some connection between the two! Paul thrilled with the -excitement of it. - -At the next corner, the grocery man turned in and headed for Main -Street, where he turned right and walked straight ahead for several -blocks. At about the middle of the street he joined a group of three -men who were standing to one side and talking quietly among themselves. -Paul crossed to the other side of the street. Pretending that he was -looking at a window display, he was actually studying the group of -four men. As far as he could tell, they were not native townspeople; -everything about them looked as though they came from somewhere else; -possibly from a large city. Two of them were very ordinary looking—of -average size and wearing the usual summer clothes. The third person -was a tall, fat individual, with a big head and a double chin. One -thing was common for all three; they all were rather hard looking. Such -was the trio that the grocery man had joined. - -It was evident that they had a lot to say to each other, for they -talked for some time, while people passed up and down and paid no -attention to them. Paul decided on a bold step. Walking down a bit, he -crossed over and, falling in behind a group of strollers, he passed -close to the group of conspirators. But they talked in such low tones -that he could not overhear a word they said. - -Not seeing any other opportunity of overhearing their conversation, -Paul crossed over again, pretended that he was looking at a window -display and walked down to the corner and back again. But every second -he kept an eye on that group. Finally after about half an hour, -the group broke up into twos. The big, fat fellow with one of his -companions walked south, while the grocery man and the third of the -trio walked north on Main Street. Paul decided to follow the grocery -man and his companion. - -They walked straight ahead for several blocks, then, very nonchalantly -rounded the corner and disappeared. Paul felt the thrill of excitement -grow on him; something hot and exciting bubbled inside of him. They -had turned into the street on which the empty house was situated. He -thought of Ken and Jack and their being on guard. But just then Jack’s -well founded hunch occurred to him; perhaps there was a secret entrance -and they would not use the front door of the house. He peeked around -the corner and saw his men turn off at the next crossing. “Good!” he -thought to himself. They were not fooling him; it was their intention -to take a roundabout route to throw anyone off their trail if they -happened to be followed. - -At a rapid pace, he took a direct route to his destination. He did not -intend to go to the house; if anything happened there, it was up to -Jack and Ken to take care of that and he knew that he could trust them. -His intention was to take up such a position that they would have to -pass him. If they did not head for the house, then he would follow them -and spy out the secret entrance to the house. - -There were only three possibilities for a secret tunnel to the house, -Paul reasoned with himself. It might be on either side or to the rear -of the house. The most probable one was at the rear of the house -because that afforded a direct connection with very little space -intervening between the two cellars. It would be a simple thing, he -thought to himself, to dig and fortify such an underground passage. - -Paul hid in a doorway and waited for his quarry to come along. In time -they did and passed within two feet of him. They were silent and -walked as though they were out for an evening stroll. Paul hesitated -ere he ventured out of his hiding place. The neighborhood was still -and dark. If he dared to follow and keep them in sight, he would very -easily be detected; he might have a running chance to escape, but that -would give him away and they, on the other hand, would then realize -that they were being suspected. - -But it was not necessary for him to follow within sight of them. He had -a pretty good idea where they were heading for. He waited for them to -round the corner and immediately he ran after them. He peeked around -the corner and saw them stop in front of a house at about the middle of -the street. They stopped and looked all around them. The next moment -they were gone. - -Paul flushed with excitement. He had discovered their secret means of -approach to the house. Now all he had to do was to thread together -all the details of the mystery, put together the puzzle into a single -whole, and choose a time when they would most probably be in the cellar -for the police to descend upon them. Paul already foresaw the moment -when the gang would be captured and locked away where they belonged. - -He decided to walk down the street, get a glimpse of the house and then -join his friends. What he saw put him in a jovial mood, as he walked -back to the corner with every intention of joining Jack and Ken. -But he did not have quite enough foresight. He had seen the group of -four break up into two pairs; he should have taken into consideration -the missing pair. Might it not be possible that these two had headed -for the same destination by a longer route. At any rate, his not -considering that angle proved disastrous for him. - -Very innocently he rounded the corner and suddenly found himself facing -the protruding, round stomach of the man he had seen as one of the -trio. Looking up into the man’s brutal face, Paul felt himself becoming -confused. In the meanwhile, he noticed the second man take his place -directly behind him. “What are you doing around here?” the fat man -demanded in a gruff, husky voice. “Don’t you know it is dangerous to be -roaming around at this time of night?” - -Paul hesitated, trying hard to keep his voice from shaking. He said, “I -just took a walk, that’s all. I live only a couple of blocks from here.” - -“So you were just taking a walk, eh? Well, then what were you spying -around for, huh?” - -Paul felt himself become tense. He wondered if they would attack him. -He answered, “I wasn’t spying, Mister. I was just walking.” - -“Then why did you look goggle eyed at every house as you passed down -the street?” - -“Just looking as I was walking.” - -The man squared his jaw and gritted his teeth. “Some day,” he hissed, -“you’ll go blind for seeing things you ain’t supposed to. Who are you?” - -Paul began to edge away so that he would not have the second gangster -directly behind his back. But he was cornered and he had no way to -move. He answered, “My name is Morris Paulson.” - -“Do you have any friends who have been snooping around lately? They had -better watch out or they will get into heaps of trouble.” - -Pretending that he was ignorant of the reference, Paul said, “I don’t -know what you are talking about, Mister. My friends are nice fellows -who mind their own business.” - -The gangster gorilla grinned mischievously. “That’s a swell idea, -everybody minding his own business,” he remarked. “And you too.” - -“Yes, sir,” Paul agreed meekly. Feeling that the questioning was over -and that he was being dismissed, he stepped out of the way and took a -step forward to walk away. For a fraction of a second he congratulated -himself on his luck. The next instant, however, he felt a crash on his -head. His whole body trembled, his knees began to wobble. As he fell -to the ground he turned half way and noticed the cruel grin on his -attacker. Then everything went dark and he knew nothing more. - -Paul lay unconscious at the feet of the fat gangster. The man poked -his toes into the boy’s ribs and turned him over on his back. “You -shouldn’t have hit him so hard,” the fat fellow said, addressing his -henchman. “He’s only a kid.” - -“I didn’t hit hard, Boss. I only tapped him nice and easy.” He looked -pleadingly at his chief. “What’ll we do with him?” he asked anxiously. - -“Bind his hands and feet and throw him in one of the empty lots.” - -“You want me to dump him, Boss?” - -“No!” was the snarling answer. “Do what I say and be quick about it.” - -Bending down, the henchman used Paul’s tie and handkerchief to tie the -boy’s hands and feet. When that was done, he picked up the inert body -under his arm and crossed the street to an empty lot and then dropped -it to the ground. Rejoining his boss, the two walked off. “That’ll -teach him a lesson,” muttered the fat fellow. - -Paul did not know how long he lay there, but he imagined that it must -have been a very long time. He tried to rise, but couldn’t. His head -ached terribly. He fell back and closed his eyes. Gradually he regained -consciousness. With difficulty, he sat up and discovered his hands and -feet bound. At first he could not recollect exactly what had happened -to him and how he came to be in this predicament. But little by little, -events came back to him. - -Frantically, Paul began to work on his bonds to free himself. But he -felt weak and every time he moved his wrist, he felt the bonds cutting -his flesh. But at last, after about twenty minutes of tiring work, -he freed his hands and it took him but a few seconds to untie his -feet. Rising, he felt himself trembling all over. He could barely keep -himself steady on his feet. Walking, he wobbled from one side to the -other. - -At the corner, he leaned against the wall of a house. Suddenly he -heard some shouts. He looked to see who it might be, but his sight was -blurred and he could only see dim shadows running toward him. Who are -they, he wondered, and what do they want from me? Was he going to be -again attacked? He wanted to run but there was no will nor effort to do -so. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -PARENTAL ADMONITIONS - - -Jack and Ken commenced their search for any sign of Paul. But -everything was still and dark and there wasn’t a sign of human life -anywhere about. After about twenty minutes of futile searching, the two -boys decided to leave and go to Jones Street. Coming to the corner, Ken -noticed a lonely figure hovering against a wall a short distance away. -He called his friend’s attention to it and Jack said, “Most likely a -drunk. But let’s go and see. It may be someone needing assistance.” - -As they neared the figure, both boys remarked that there was something -familiar about it. Jack began to feel a little uneasy about that lonely -figure leaning against the wall and he walked faster, Ken at his -side. Soon they were both running. “It’s Paul!” screamed Jack, almost -hysterically. - -The two friends ran over to Paul and caught hold of him on either side. -“Paul! Paul!” whispered Jack frantically. “How are you? What happened -to you?” - -Paul shook his head, trying to shake away the mist from his eyes and -the dullness out of his head. Ken whispered, “Let’s take him right -home, Jack. Don’t bother him with questions now.” - -Jack nodded and agreed. He was almost in tears at the helpless sight of -his chum. Putting their arms around their friend, they started to lead -him home. Very gradually, Paul regained his balance and self assurance. -“All right,” he muttered, “I can walk by myself now.” - -But just as soon as the boys removed their supporting arms, Paul -tottered and almost fell. Jack immediately put an arm around his -shoulder. A short while later, Paul finally walked by himself. “Some -mess I got myself into,” he mumbled. - -Jack smiled, happy that his friend was all right again. “Now don’t -talk,” he said. “Save your energy.” - -Paul grinned to himself thinking of how nearly he got away. They came -to his house and Jack whispered, “How will we wake your father up? It’s -quite late already.” - -“What do you want to wake him up for?” inquired Paul. - -“He has to treat your head, fellow. You’re all bloody and messy.” - -“Don’t bother him, Jack. I’ll wash up myself and let him see it -tomorrow.” - -“Nothing doing,” insisted Jack. “You have to be taken care of by a -doctor right away. And it’s better your father does it than anyone -else.” - -“All right, but don’t tell him what happened. Just say I fell.” - -Jack ran up the step to the porch and rang the night bell. About two -minutes later, Dr. Morrison, in his pajamas and bath robe, answered the -door. Seeing who it was, he exclaimed, “Why, Jack, is there anything -wrong?” - -Jack thought for a few seconds what to say. “Er, Dr. Morrison,” he -began, “don’t be alarmed but er—” - -The doctor was impatient and he cried, “Well, well?” - -“You see, Paul was hurt and—” - -“Where is he?” was the direct and decisive question. “I thought he was -in his room and asleep long ago.” - -They went around to the back of the porch. The doctor looked at Paul’s -wound and said, “Let’s go into the office and I’ll fix you up.” The -boys followed. At the door the doctor turned to them and said, “You go -home, fellows; it’s late.” - -Jack compressed his lips and gritted his teeth. He wanted to ask if the -wound was serious or if there was anything he could do to help. But -the doctor seemed not to want them around. He waited until Paul and -his father entered the house and closed the door. Ken whispered, “All -right, Jack, let’s go. There is nothing more we can do here.” - -Crossing the street, they separated and each went home to sleep and to -think over everything that happened that evening. - -Early in the morning, Jack got ready to leave his home. His mother -called to him and asked, “Where are you going so early? Aren’t you -going to wait for breakfast?” - -But Jack shook his head, kissed his mother on the cheek and ran out -of the house. He was anxious to see Paul, and, as it was too early -to ring the bell, he walked back and forth like a sentinel in front -of the Morrison house. Counting every minute, he finally decided at -eight-thirty sharp, that it was all right to ring the bell now. He -knew that Dr. Morrison’s office hours began at nine, and that usually -he had his breakfast between eight-fifteen and a quarter of nine. His -heart beat wildly as he heard footsteps coming to open the door. “Good -morning, Jack,” Mrs. Morrison greeted him. “What are you doing here so -early?” - -“Good morning, Mrs. Morrison. I just want to see Paul.” - -“Paul is a little tardy in getting out of bed this morning,” she told -him as they entered the dining room. “Have a seat. He ought to be down -any minute.” - -“Good morning, Dr. Morrison.” - -“Good morning, Jack. Did you have breakfast yet?” - -“Breakfast!” Jack clasped his hand to his forehead. “I completely -forgot about it.” - -Dr. Morrison laughed heartily, but his wife couldn’t see the joke and -she exclaimed, “You forgot to have breakfast! Is there anything wrong -with you?” - -Dr. Morrison laughed and Jack shook his head. “No,” he replied meekly. -“I guess I wasn’t hungry.” - -“You’re going to have breakfast right now,” insisted Mrs. Morrison. -“Sit here,” she ordered the boy and then she went to the kitchen. - -Dr. Morrison shrewdly remarked, with a twinkle in his eye, “If you can -forget your breakfast, Jack, I can imagine what happened last night.” - -Jack moved to the edge of his seat. “How is he?” he inquired anxiously. -“Hurt bad?” - -“Oh, I guess he will live to get into plenty of more trouble. Nothing -to worry about.” - -Mrs. Morrison returned and placed silverware and a plate in front of -Jack. “Your bacon and eggs will be ready right away,” she said. “In the -meanwhile, have this orange juice.” - -Just then Paul came downstairs. He was smiling and looked as though -nothing had happened. “Good morning, everybody,” he called cheerfully. - -His greetings were returned. Kissing his mother on the cheek, she -noticed the bandage on the back of his head. “What happened?” she -demanded. - -“Nothing, Mother. I just fell, that’s all.” - -She looked at her husband who was smiling. “Nothing much,” he muttered -to re-assure her. - -“I wonder,” she said skeptically. - -Paul and Jack looked at each other and grinned guiltily. “Well, sit -down,” remarked Dr. Morrison, addressing his son. - -Weighed down by a guilty conscience, the boys ate their breakfast in -silence. Jack waited for Paul to finish. They noted with dismay that -Dr. Morrison, although through with his morning meal, sat by the table -and read the paper. Paul said, “I’m ready, Jack, let’s go.” - -Dr. Morrison rose with the boys and took them under the arm. “Where -to?” he asked. - -Paul squirmed. “Just out to the porch,” he answered. - -“Are you in any particular hurry? Something very important to talk -about?” - -“No,” his son answered hesitantly. - -“That’s fine. Do you mind coming into my office for a couple of -minutes?” - -Jack thinking that Dr. Morrison meant only Paul, drew away. But the -doctor said to him, “You, too, Jack. Come along.” - -Dr. Morrison sat down at his desk and pointed the boys to chairs. For -a moment there was silence. “Well,” remarked the doctor, “now tell me -what this is all about.” - -The boys fidgeted. “What what’s about, Dad?” - -“Now don’t pretend ignorance,” commented the doctor. “You know very -well what I mean.” - -Paul turned to his companion and said, “You tell him, Jack.” - -Jack felt himself getting hot all over and becoming red in the face. -“No, you tell him yourself, Paul.” - -Dr. Morrison smiled at their uneasiness. Paul said, “Dad, I don’t want -to tell you any falsehoods and I can’t tell you now what it is all -about. You wouldn’t understand. Please don’t ask me.” - -“I don’t want to pry into your personal affairs and have you tell me -things you don’t want,” said Dr. Morrison, “but getting a bump on the -head like that is very serious.” He paused and the boys kept silent. -The doctor continued, “I have treated a number of such cases and I can -testify to the fact that the bumping was done by an expert.” - -“It really isn’t much,” Paul assured his father. “And I promise to be -more careful in the future.” - -“All right, son. You had better be—and you, too, Jack—if you want to -keep a whole head on your shoulders.” - -“Yes, Dad.” - -Grinning, the boys rose and left the office, with Dr. Morrison shaking -his head and wondering what they were up to now. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -FALSE ALARM! - - -Ken was sitting on the steps of the porch. He jumped up as he heard the -door open. “Hello, fellows,” he cried. - -“Hello, Ken. You’re lucky; you always get away with things.” - -“What’s the trouble this time, Paul?” - -“My dad just had us up at the bar and almost made us tell.” - -“You can’t do that. Not yet, at any rate.” - -“For the present we got away with it,” remarked Jack. - -They went across the street to Ken’s garage where they would have the -privacy they wanted. Seating themselves on boxes in a circle, Jack -heaved a sigh, then said, “Well, Paul, now you can tell us everything -that happened.” - -Paul grinned mischievously. He leaned forward and whispered, “I found -out their secret entrance to the cellar.” - -“You mean it!” exclaimed Jack. - -“That’s perfect!” cried Ken. - -“It’s in the house to the rear of the empty house.” - -“I had a suspicion it would be something like that,” commented Jack. -“What sort of a house is it?” - -“It was dark and there was not much chance to see anything. By the -way,” he asked, “whose idea was it to suspect the grocery man?” - -“Mine,” answered Ken. “Was I wrong?” - -“On the contrary, you were right and you deserve a medal as a fine -detective. That man is one of the gang.” - -“You don’t say! Well, come on, tell us about it.” - -Paul commenced at the very beginning and related all that had happened -to him the previous night. Completing his narrative, Jack muttered, -“So! That’s the way things stand.” - -“Yes. Now you tell me what happened to you two last night.” - -“In one word,” replied Jack, “nothing.” - -“Tell him about the printing press,” suggested Ken. - -“Well, yes, but that wasn’t much. By putting our ears to the ground, we -could hear very slightly the printing press going.” - -“On the contrary. You should have been able to hear it very well,” -commented Paul. - -“Come to think of it,” remarked Jack, “you’re right. They must have -muffled the noise of the machine somehow.” - -“They are certainly going in for it in a big way,” said Ken. - -“It seems that they are,” Paul replied. “Now, if we can get a couple of -things straightened out, we can tell the story to the police and have -the gang arrested.” - -“I think we ought to wait a while,” suggested Jack. “It is a little too -soon yet.” - -“Yes. From every indication,” commented Paul, “it seems that they are -on the alert. We have to catch them at a moment when they are off their -guard and make sure that every one of them happens to be there.” - -“There are also a couple of more things that we have to check up on. -For example, we still don’t know how Mr. Grey fits into the picture -and—” - -“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” interrupted Paul. “Following the grocery -man, he and Mr. Grey passed each other and nodded. Whatever that meant -I don’t know, but it establishes beyond a doubt that they know each -other and that Mr. Grey is in with the crowd.” - -“That’s very interesting to know,” said Jack enthusiastically. “But in -that case, how are we going to explain his past behavior?” - -“I don’t know,” answered Paul. “But there is no doubt that there is -some connection between his past behavior and what we are up against -now.” - -“Yes,” muttered Jack, “I’d give a penny to know exactly how those fires -and the robbery fit into the puzzle.” - -“Eventually, we will solve that,” remarked Paul. “I have a notion how -they fit in but—” - -“Tell us!” exclaimed Ken. - -“I would rather not; it sounds foolish and I may be mistaken. Besides, -I couldn’t very well substantiate my argument. But what we have to -decide now, is what we are going to do next, what our plan of action is -going to be.” - -“Do you have any suggestion?” asked Jack. - -“My opinion is that we ought to keep away for a couple of days. That -would make them think that they have scared us away. It will also make -them a little careless and things will be easier for us to accomplish.” - -“All right. Now suppose we do play dead, so to speak, for two days; -then what?” asked Ken. - -“Well, we still have to go down to the cellar for a second time and -establish definitely what’s going on there.” - -“And we still have to locate the exact position of their secret -tunnel—for it must be that,” added Jack. - -Paul nodded. “Yes,” he said. “It would be a simple thing to bore a -tunnel connecting the two cellars.” - -“But how are we going to determine how the fires and the robbery at -Professor Link’s fit into the picture?” asked Ken. - -“For that we will have to wait and see how things turn out,” explained -Paul. “It may be very possible that those incidents have nothing to do -with it all.” - -“But those were the very things that we began to investigate,” insisted -Ken. - -“Yes, and now look what it got us into,” remarked Jack. - -Suddenly the air was rent by the screech of the fire siren. The boys -leaped to their feet and began to race down the street. “But it isn’t -time yet for another fire,” protested Paul. - -“What do you mean, it isn’t time yet?” questioned Ken. - -“I told you about it. From the reports in the papers, it seemed there -was a fire approximately every ten to fourteen days.” - -“Well, maybe this is a real fire,” suggested Jack. - -“Perhaps.” - -At Main Street, the boys saw the fire engine, a brand new one the town -of Stanhope had recently acquired, come racing madly down the street. -People were lined up along the sidewalk watching the engine pass. -“Where’s the fire?” Paul asked someone. - -The man shrugged his shoulders and answered, “I don’t know.” - -Paul asked someone else. But nobody seemed to know where the fire was. -Jack suggested that they run down the street, in the direction the fire -engine went, and perhaps they would come upon it. The boys agreed and -they fell into a trot. On the way, they stopped every once in a while -to inquire as to the location of the fire. But nobody seemed to know. -“That’s strange,” muttered Jack. - -“What’s strange?” asked Ken. - -“That no one should know where the fire is.” - -About a quarter of a mile down, they saw the fire engine returning. The -firemen waved to people as they passed. One of the firemen shouted to a -friend at the curb, “False alarm!” - -“Did you hear that?” asked Jack, turning to his friends. - -“Yes,” answered Paul, “I heard it. I’m just wondering.” - -“Wondering about what?” - -“Just thinking of something.” - -The boys began to walk back. For a while they were silent. “By golly!” -exclaimed Paul, slapping his right fist into his palm. “I wouldn’t be -surprised if—” - -He stopped to think for a second. “If what?” asked Ken. - -“If that gang,” continued Paul, “were not responsible for the false -alarm.” - -“How do you mean?” asked Jack. - -“Pretty soon,” commented Ken, “you will have that gang responsible for -everything that happens in this town.” - -“But listen to this,” explained Paul. “Suppose they want to move -something, do you think they want any witnesses?” - -“No, but—” - -“But when you hear the fire siren, people start running to the fire, -there is a commotion, no one would pay any attention to something being -moved in or out of a house. Isn’t that right?” - -“Yes,” agreed Ken hesitantly, “but—” - -“How about going over there and looking around?” suggested Jack. - -“No,” insisted Paul. “We said we would play dead for two days and we -are going to do it.” - -“All right, you win.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -CAPTURED! - - -The two days were up. Jack and Ken, waiting for Paul, sat idly about -at the latter’s garage. It was early morning, about nine o’clock and -the day was clear and warm. Soon Paul appeared and he sat down near -his friends on a box. “All right, fellows,” he said, “what’s to be our -first move?” - -“Go down to the cellar,” suggested Jack. “It’s early morning and -probably no one will be there. We will have at least a couple of hours -in which to look around.” - -“Yes, and perhaps we will find the secret door,” added Ken. - -“Let’s go, then,” said Paul. - -Jack picked up the baseball bat and followed. “Again you’re bringing -along your bat,” remarked Paul. - -“Sure. It may come in handy.” - -“You’re right. It might not be a bad idea for Ken and I also to take -along some sort of weapon.” - -They stopped and looked around. Finding a stray broom handle, Ken sawed -it into three pieces and Jack discarded his bat. Putting their weapons -out of sight, they walked off. “How will we manage it?” asked Ken. - -“We will do it the same as last time,” suggested Paul. “You will stay -outside and keep a careful watch while Jack and I will go down. Is that -agreeable?” - -Ken nodded. “It’s all right with me.” - -Before they reached the empty house, Jack suggested that they take -a look at the house in its rear, where no doubt the secret door was -situated. His companions thought it was a good idea and they proceeded -to do so. - -Ken took his place at one corner and Paul, by walking around the block, -took his place at the opposite corner. When all was ready, Jack very -innocently walked down the street on the wrong side. The house under -suspicion was a one family brick building with a stoop leading up to -the front door; at the ground level were noticeable the small windows -of the cellar. From all appearances, the house was occupied; there were -curtains in the windows, several flower pots were distributed on the -small porch and a rubber hose lay on the ground not far from the house. - -As Jack reached the corner, he took over Ken’s place and the latter -strolled nonchalantly up the street, noticing everything within -sight of the house. The boys got together again and discussed their -impressions of the house. “Very innocent looking as far as I could -see,” remarked Ken. - -“Don’t let that fool you,” asserted Paul. - -The boys proceeded to the empty house. Careful not to be seen as they -entered the yard, they put their ears to the ground to find out whether -the printing press was in motion. Satisfied that everything was quiet -below as far as they could judge they prepared for action. - -Ken took his place prepared to watch, while Jack and Paul moved off and -entered the house. Closing the door quietly behind them, they entered -the first room on their right. Moving very cautiously, they approached -the spot where the trap door was supposed to be. But at first they -could not find the small piece of wood that came out of the floor. Both -boys frantically hunted for that piece of wood. After about fifteen -minutes of digging their nails into the floor in wild search, Jack at -last came upon it and lifted it out of the floor. - -Paul lifted the trap door and began to descend. Their hearts were -aflutter with excitement. What awaited them below? Would they come to -trouble? Would they come to grips with the gangsters? Both boys had had -a taste of their medicine, but that didn’t discourage them nor were -they intimidated. Grasping firmly their short sticks, they walked down -the steps. - -It was dark below, and that was a good sign. Each of the boys carried -a flashlight and lit up their way. Jack closed the trap door over his -head and followed Paul. At the bottom of the stairs, Paul waited for -his friend. A beam of light went all around the room and came to rest -on the table. About five or six bills lay sprawled on the wooden table. -Jack whispered, “Look.” - -Paul nodded. Together they approached the table and looked at the -money bills. There were two fives, two tens and a twenty dollar bill. -“Counterfeit,” whispered Paul. - -Jack picked one up and slipped it into his pocket. They returned to -the end of the room and began a thorough search, working from one end -of the room to the other. There were several pieces of clothing, many -rags, various packages, and other things, such as tools and machinery -about which they knew nothing. They paused to examine the printing -press very carefully. They moved on. Jack whispered, “Let’s try to find -the secret door.” - -Paul nodded. “It must be over the other way,” he whispered back. - -They proceeded to the other end of the cellar. A beam of light moved -back and forth over the wall, but no sign of a door. They tapped and -groped at the wall but with no success. Suddenly their hearts fell. -The faint noise of footsteps on the other side of the wall came to -them. Their minds were in a whirl. What were they to do? Were they to -be captured? If so what would happen to them? They already had a taste -of what the gang did to anyone spying on them. What would they do now? -All these thoughts flashed through their minds in an instant. Paul -whispered, “Hide.” - -Paul dived behind a bunch of rags and pulled several of the rags over -him. But Jack was not so quick. At his corner, there was no ready -hiding place for him to run to. And he was still looking for one as the -electric light flashed on and part of the middle of the wall was pushed -open. In a flash, he noticed how the door worked; the handle of the -door was pushed through on the other side, and thus a means was left -for an exit; but on leaving, if the handle was pulled in, whoever was -in the cellar was either imprisoned or had to use the trap door in the -empty house. - -As the door was thrown open, the two gangsters whom Paul had noticed -with the fat fellow and the grocery man, stepped forth. Seeing Jack, -one of them whipped a revolver out of his hip pocket. The second one, -however, grabbed his mate by the arm and exclaimed, “Don’t shoot. He is -only a kid.” - -Advancing to Jack, the second one demanded, “What are you doing here?” - -Jack held his breath and tried not to look in the direction where his -chum was hiding. “Just happen to be here,” he answered, his heart in -his mouth, wondering what they would do to him. - -The gangster became angry and boisterous. “I know you happen to be -here,” he cried as he gave the boy a shove that sent him sprawling. -“But how do you happen to be here, that’s what I want to know.” - -Jack picked himself up. The first man, with his gun still in his hand, -mumbled to his companion, “Wait a minute, Pete, somebody else may be -here. Let’s look around.” - -“Okey, Joe. Keep this fellow covered while I look around.” - -He took his gun out of his pocket and let his eyes wander about the -cellar. He spied the bundle of rags. Levelling the gun at it, he cried, -“If you’re hiding there behind the rags, you better come out or I’ll -shoot.” - -Paul thought he had better not take any chances and slowly he rose, -with his hands above his head. Joe cried, “I think that’s the guy the -boss and I caught the other day and I socked him.” - -Pete demanded, “Are there any more of you in here?” - -Paul shook his head. Out of the corner of their eyes, the boys glanced -at each other. Both were pale and tense, but not frightened. Pete -raised his fist threateningly and scowled, “If you’re lying, I’ll knock -your block off.” - -Paul said, “If you don’t believe me why don’t you look around and see -for yourself.” - -That seemed to satisfy the gangster and he lowered his arm. “What are -you doing here?” he again demanded. - -“We came upon the trap door by accident,” replied Paul undaunted, “and -we thought we would look and see what it was all about.” - -“You’re sure you don’t know any more than that?” - -“What could we know that you don’t want us to know?” asked Paul. - -Pete lunged out and hit Paul on the cheek. “That’ll teach you not to -get fresh,” he hissed. - -“What’ll we do with them?” asked the gangster named Joe, addressing his -mate. “You think we ought to dump them?” - -“No,” was the snarling reply. “We’ll tie them up and leave it to the -boss to do with them as he pleases.” - -“What for?” demanded Joe. “They’re a couple of rats and we ought to get -rid of them.” - -“They’re kids,” argued Pete. “We dump them and you’ll have the cops on -our tail.” - -“The cops don’t need to know.” - -“Never mind. Tie them up and don’t argue.” - -The two gangsters faced each other and it seemed that they might get -into a quarrel. “I say dump them,” shouted Joe. - -“And I say no,” snarled back Pete. - -Jack and Paul watched them face each other, leveling their guns. The -boys thought it would be good luck if they did fight and kill each -other. But in that case there would be shooting and they needed safe -places to run to. However, Joe, the weaker of the two, gave in and -muttered, “Okey. We’ll tie them up.” - -Tearing some rags into strips, Joe tied the boy’s hands and feet and -their own handkerchiefs were used to put around their mouths. The job -completed, they were tossed into the corner. Pete, who was watching the -procedure, now said, “All right. Now grab those two packages and take -them to the boss. And ask him what to do with these kids.” - -“And what are you gonna do?” Joe asked with malice. - -“I’m going to stay here and keep an eye on these kids.” - -“That’s all right with me,” said Joe. He went to the other end of the -cellar and picked up two packages wrapped in plain brown paper. Nodding -to his mate, he called, “Okey, I’ll be going now.” - -“And don’t take all day coming back,” snarled Pete. - -Joe was gone. Pete brought over a chair and leaned it against the wall. -Sitting down, he took a penknife out of his pocket, placed his gun in -his lap and began to clean his fingernails. “It’s too bad you kids have -to pry into things you shouldn’t,” he muttered, addressing himself to -the boys without looking at them. “It ain’t healthy. You’re liable to -get bumped off one of these days and then where will it get you?” He -paused for a moment to think and scratch his head. “Mind your own -business is my motto,” he continued. “If everybody would mind their own -business, everything would be all right. As it is, people get into the -trouble, like you kids, when you shouldn’t.” - -He stopped talking. With their hands tied behind their backs, the boys -worked feverishly to loosen their bonds. But they had to work without -being suspected by their captor. And what’s more, Joe had done a good -and expert job. The bonds were tied so strongly they could barely move -their wrists. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -ESCAPE! - - -The boys felt cramped and awkward in their sprawling positions. The -bonds cut into their wrists and ankles. Each one worked to release -his hands, but the task was difficult. But even if they did untie -themselves, what could they do? Pete, the gangster, sat near by with -his gun in his lap. The slightest move on their part and he would shoot -at them. They realized that they were in a very bad predicament. - -The gangster began his preaching again. “Now if you kids had minded -your own business,” he said, “as you should have, you wouldn’t get -into this thing. You should have been out playing baseball or swimming -instead of snooping around. And what do you get for it? I don’t know -what the boss is going to do to you. He may even dump you and that’ll -be too bad because you’re still kids.” He shook his head in dismay. -“You should have minded your own business.” - -He put away his knife and leaned back in his chair. Taking the handle -of his gun in his hand, he glanced at the boys who seemed to be pretty -safely tied up, and then he closed his eyes. - -Waiting a few minutes, the boys continued working on their bonds. Soon -Pete began to snore. Now, if he only slept soundly for a short while -so that they could work undisturbed! But the effort to free their hands -was a very tiring process and in ten minutes they had not accomplished -anything. Paul thought of a method. Noiselessly he began to edge up to -his friend. Pete moved and the boys ceased their activity. He slept on, -and Paul finally managed to creep up to Jack. Placing themselves back -to back, Paul began to work on his friend’s bonds. - -In the meanwhile, a shadow appeared at the other end of the cellar -which seemed to have descended the stairs through the trap door. He was -so noiseless that even the boys did not hear his footsteps. He crept -forward like a cat, a veritable shadow. Nearer and nearer he came to -the sleeping form of the gangster. - -Paul decided to rest his fingers for a moment and to look up at Pete to -see if the gangster was still sound asleep. Doing so, he noticed the -approaching form. His heart sank. Nudging his friend, Jack also looked -up and together they watched the approaching form. What was he up to? -Was he friend or foe? The man put a finger to his lips and motioned to -the boys to keep utter quiet. It mystified them. Was he after all a -friend? And all the while they had taken him for a foe. - -The boys flushed with excitement and followed every stealthy move of -Mr. Grey, for it was he. When he was within about a yard of Pete, he -threw himself upon the gangster. The gun clattered to the ground. The -gangster uttered a shriek, but the next moment his face was buried into -the floor and his hands were being tied in the back with rope that Mr. -Grey took out of his pocket. Following that, Pete’s feet were tied. The -gangster tried to turn to see who his assailant was but Mr. Grey kept -his face turned toward the floor. Then Mr. Grey gagged and blindfolded -the gangster and left him lying in a heap where he was. - -The boys were breathless; they couldn’t imagine what the man was up to. -With one bound he was at their side and untying their bonds. “It’s a -lucky thing I got here in time,” he muttered. - -He helped them to their feet and motioned for them to follow him. He -ran up the stairs and through the trap door. “Now run for your lives,” -he told them. - -The boys hesitated. Paul said, “We want to thank you for saving our -lives and—” - -The man cut him short with a wave of his hand. “No time to lose,” he -whispered rapidly. “Go.” - -“Who are you?” asked Jack. - -The man shook his head and pushed them through the door. “Go,” he -commanded them for a second time. - -The boys went out of the house and signalled to Ken to follow them. -But he needed no signal. He was on the alert, waiting for them and -frantic with worry. He jumped out of his hiding place and joined his -two friends. “I thought you were goners, sure,” he cried. - -They sprinted away down the street. “What do you mean?” asked Jack as -they ran. - -“I saw Mr. Grey enter the house and—” - -Jack stopped dead in his tracks. “Say!” he exclaimed, “where did he -disappear to? Did you notice, Paul?” - -Paul shook his head. “No,” he answered. “I guess we were so excited we -didn’t notice.” - -“What happened?” asked Ken. - -“Tell you later,” answered Paul. “Finish what you started to say.” - -“Well, as I was saying I saw Mr. Grey enter the house and I became -frantic. I whistled and whistled but evidently you didn’t hear me. -I couldn’t imagine what might happen to you and I couldn’t think of -anything to do or how to help. I waited and it seemed to me like a -year. I was already preparing to go down there myself when you two came -out.” - -“Nothing else happened?” asked Jack. - -“Nothing else,” was the reply. “Wasn’t that enough?” - -They slowed down to a walk as they approached Main Street. “Now tell me -what happened to you,” said Ken. - -“Plenty happened,” remarked Paul, “but let’s wait until we get to the -garage where we can discuss the whole thing.” - -At their destination, they sat down to rest. Paul and Jack heaved a -sigh of relief. “What a close shave!” exclaimed Paul. - -“Well, tell me, what happened?” asked Ken. - -Between them, the two boys narrated the events that befell them while -Ken gasped and could hardly believe it. When the story was all told, he -exclaimed, “Say, this thing is getting to be dangerous. We have to do -something about it.” - -“Yes,” agreed Paul. “And we have to do it quickly. In all likelihood, -those gangsters are going to return to that cellar, if they haven’t -already. Seeing that we escaped, they will probably try to get away by -tonight.” - -“We have to move fast then,” added Jack. - -“But what are we going to do?” asked Ken. “What can we do?” - -Paul leaned forward and whispered to his companions, “The police!” -It struck them all at once that lately they had not thought of the -police who might have saved them a lot of trouble and who were the most -logical people to tell. Paul continued, “We have to tell the police -right away before it is too late.” - -“But wait a minute,” remarked Jack. “Do you think they will believe us. -They are liable to think that we are inventing it all.” - -“We have to convince them, that’s all there is to it.” - -“We most surely do,” added Ken. “There is nothing we can do ourselves.” - -“Oh, yes, there are lots of things we could do ourselves if we only -thought of it,” commented Jack. “I don’t know how wise it is to tell -the police. They may just take us for a bunch of crazy kids.” - -“As I said,” repeated Paul, “we have to convince them.” - -“I wonder how Mr. Grey fits into the situation. I would give a penny to -know,” said Jack. - -“So would we all,” commented Paul. “But we don’t have any time to lose, -so let’s get going.” - -“Do you think we will be able to see Chief Bates himself?” asked Jack. - -“I think I can manage that,” replied Ken. “He knows me and I’ll ask to -see him.” - -“All right, let’s go,” said Jack. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -CONVINCING THE POLICE - - -The boys headed for police headquarters. They undertook their task -with trepidation, wondering how they would be received, feeling that -possibly it was an unwise course to take, that perhaps if they tried -they might capture the gangsters themselves without having to be -ridiculed by unbelieving police. And coming to think of it, all the -evidence at their command was flimsy, in many cases unreasonable and -illogical. Besides, they were youngsters, and if they narrated all the -events, they would be considered mentally distorted. The fact that they -were perfectly normal and were sincere and truthful was beside the -point. It was whether they would be able to convince that would tell -the tale. - -They were very silent as they walked down Main Street toward police -headquarters. Each one was thinking his own thoughts about the past -week. Jack asked himself what the best approach might be. Paul -tried hard to think how to narrate the story so that it would sound -convincing, and in his mind he went over the words and phrases that -he thought would be most suitable to use. Ken was thinking that with -the police entering the case it would be soon ended and their mystery -solved. But would it be? - -Suppose the gang of counterfeiters were caught, what then? The boys had -started out to solve the mystery of the white card—who was responsible -for leading Betty away to the end of the town? Who was responsible for -the fires? Who was responsible for the robbery at Professor Link’s? And -these three things were linked together by virtue of the white card. -The boys felt so convinced of the white card as a clue, that if it were -found to be not so, they would be badly disappointed. - -Jack muttered skeptically, “I hope we don’t get thrown out before we -get a chance to see Chief Bates.” - -Ken assured his friend, “Oh, you’ll see him all right. The important -thing is, can you convince him?” - -Paul laughed and joked, “Whether we convince him or not, wouldn’t it be -a fine predicament if to crown all our effort and glory, Chief Bates -throws us into jail.” - -“What for?” demanded Ken. - -“For any number of reasons,” answered Paul. “He might put us away to -cool us off. Or he might jail us for doing detective work without a -license.” - -“You don’t need a license to be an amateur detective,” argued Ken. - -“Amateur is a perfect word for it,” ironically commented Jack. “He will -think we are a bunch of amateurs running wild.” - -“Well, let’s not anticipate his reception of us. The chief might give -us a bunch of onions for a prize and that would be something,” remarked -Paul. - -“I’m hungry,” exclaimed Ken. “Let’s go in for an ice cream soda.” - -“That’s the perfect idea,” agreed Paul. “And I hope it will put us into -the right spirit.” - -“Most likely it will cool us off,” remarked Jack. “But I’ll also have a -soda.” - -They entered a drugstore and ordered three ice cream sodas. As Jack -said, it cooled them off, but it also picked them up in spirits. They -emerged smiling, cheerful, confident. The police headquarters was a -short distance away and they were soon in front of the building. They -hesitated before entering. Each one of them felt his heart sink low and -his pulse begin to throb. Paul shrugged his shoulders and commented, -“Well, as the saying goes, faint heart never won fair maiden. Let’s go -in.” - -They entered the hall. At one side was a desk with a sergeant behind -it. “Yes, boys,” he called to them, “What do you want?” - -Ken said, “I want to see Chief Bates; my name is Ken, Ken Armstrong.” - -The policeman smiled patiently. “The chief is very busy, you know, and -unless you have important business with him, you can’t see him.” - -Jack piped up, “Oh, it’s very important.” - -Paul pulled his friend away. Ken said confidently, “Oh, he will see me -all right. You see, he knows me. Just say that Ken Armstrong wants to -see him.” - -“And what shall I say is your business with him?” inquired the -sergeant, amused at the boy’s self confidence. - -“It’s personal. Just say I would like to see him.” - -The policeman nodded and very lazily picked up his telephone. “Hello, -hello,” he called into the speaker, “give me the chief’s office.” He -waited for several seconds, in the meanwhile looking the boys up and -down. Again he spoke into the mouthpiece, saying, “There’s a boy here -by the name of Ken Armstrong who wants to see the chief. Says that the -chief knows him and will surely—most surely—see him.” The policeman -scowled as he said that. Again he waited for an answer. Several seconds -later, he answered, “All right.” - -He hung up the receiver and turned to Ken. “I guess he knows you all -right.” Ken was overjoyed while his two friends were glad and cheerful. -“Go down to the end of the corridor,” directed the sergeant, “and then -turn left. On the door that says Police Chief, go in there and his -secretary will take care of you.” - -“Thank you,” said Ken. - -The three boys walked down the corridor and turned left. They entered -the office of the Chief of Police and his secretary, a very attractive -young woman, greeted them. “Which of you is Ken?” she asked. - -Ken spoke up. “I am.” - -“Very well. Have a seat and Mr. Bates will see you in a few minutes. He -is busy just now.” - -The boys sat down and the secretary returned to her desk and -typewriter. To the boys it seemed that she typed faster than the eye -could follow. They looked around the room and noticed the various -pictures and other office furniture. Every moment was to them an hour. -Jack was sure that the chief would take one look at them and then -throw them out of his office. Paul wondered how it happened Ken was -acquainted with Chief Bates and made a mental note to ask his friend -about it. - -A buzzer sounded in the room and the boys jumped up. The secretary -nodded and said, “You can go in now, Ken.” - -Ken proceeded toward the door, followed by his friends. The secretary -stopped them. “I thought only Ken was going in?” - -“Oh, no,” he replied. “These are friends of mine and they are coming in -with me.” - -The young woman shrugged her shoulders. “Very well,” she said, “go -right in.” - -Ken knocked on the door and someone called loudly, “Come in.” - -They entered. Behind a large desk toward the rear of the room sat Chief -Bates. He was a man of about forty-five, well-set, husky and strong. He -called out, “Hello Ken. I’m glad to see you.” - -“Hello, Chief,” Ken answered, “these are friends of mine. I hope you -don’t mind—” - -“No, not at all. Pull up chairs, boys.” He leaned back in his swivel -chair. When they were seated, he said, “Well what is it, Ken. But I -warn you, I don’t have much time, so you better talk quickly.” - -Ken said, “We are here to ask you a favor, Chief.” - -“Anything within reason, Ken,” shot back the chief, “and I’ll do it.” - -“The favor is,” continued Ken, “that you listen to something very, very -important.” - -“Very, very important,” added Jack. - -Ken turned to Paul and said, “You tell him, Paul.” - -Paul drew up his chair and leaned on the desk. He began, “You see, -Chief, what we are going to tell you may sound very fantastic but I -want you to believe that we are telling the truth and that we are not -inventing anything.” - -“Go on, go on,” urged the chief, nonchalantly leaning back in his chair. - -“Well, to begin with,” continued Paul, “we have discovered a gang of -counterfeiters—” - -The chief almost jumped out of his seat. He flew forward to the desk -and cried, “You have what? What are you talking about? Are you telling -me stories or something?” - -Paul felt his confidence shaking. He realized that the chief was a -terror and would be hard to convince, but, he said to himself, he had -to be convinced. “You see,” he said, “already you think we are telling -you some fictionized story or trying to shock you. Please listen, it’s -very important, and if you want to catch the gang, you have to act -quickly.” - -“Go on, go on,” said the chief, leaning on his desk. - -“At 752 York Street, there is an empty house. In the cellar of that -house you will find a printing press and all the things necessary to -make counterfeit money.” - -“How do you know all that?” demanded the chief. - -“We were in there; we saw everything.” - -“And how did you happen to be in there?” - -The chief shot his questions like arrows and Paul began to waver; he -was becoming confused. “That’s a long story, Chief,” he said, “and I am -trying to come to the point directly.” - -“Never mind, tell me the whole story.” - -“But Chief Bates, that would take too long and it is important that -you act quickly. The point of the story is that there are a gang of -counterfeiters operating in the cellar of the empty house at 752 York -Street. There is also a tunnel leading from that cellar to the cellar -of the house in the rear of 752 York Street. That’s how they get in and -out without being noticed.” - -“But, my dear boy,” exclaimed the chief, irritated, “how do you know -all that? Do you have any evidence? How am I to believe that what you -are telling me is not a hoax of some sort?” - -Jack jumped to his feet, impatient and exasperated. “Why don’t you go -down there and find out?” he cried. - -He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. Paul began to say something, -but the next instant Jack jumped up and cried, “Here, here is your -evidence. Look at this. When we were down there, there were a number of -such bills on the table and I put this one into my pocket.” - -The chief picked up the fake five dollar bill that Jack had thrown on -the desk and examined it carefully. He rose and walked to the door and -called to his secretary. “Tell Jim Spencer I want to see him right -away.” - -He returned to his swivel chair and said to the boys, “Now fellows, -I am not doubting your story; on the contrary, I think that you may -be telling the truth. But you understand that I have to question you -closely.” He paused and the boys looked relieved; they even smiled -happily. “In the meanwhile, I do wish you would tell me the whole -story, from beginning to end, how you happened to discover this gang -and all that.” - -Paul looked at his friends and they nodded to him. Jack said, “Go on, -Paul, tell him. But it will take a long time, though, Chief.” - -The Chief of Police nodded. “That’s all right. I’m a good listener.” - -Just then a tall, husky man entered the office and said, “You called -for me, Chief?” - -“Yes. Take a look at this.” And the chief gave Jim Spencer the -counterfeit bill. - -The detective quickly and expertly glanced at the bill and announced, -“It’s fake, all right, Chief. Very clever work, though. Most likely the -work of Moonshine Charlie.” - -“You know what these boys are telling me, Jim?” asked the Chief. The -detective shook his head and Bates continued, “They say that they have -located the gang, have been down in their hangout and all they want -now, I guess, is for us to step in and clean the gang up, isn’t that -so, fellows?” - -“That’s right,” cried Jack. “And you had better hurry, too.” - -“Very interesting,” commented Jim Spencer. “How did they happen to -discover it all?” - -“That’s just what I’m trying to get out of them,” answered the chief, -“but it’s like pulling teeth. Sit down and listen to the story.” To -Paul, he said, “All right, go on with your story.” - -“Well,” began the boy, “how it all began may sound a little fantastic. -But you remember, Chief, that a week ago today, Ken’s little sister, -Betty, disappeared for about an hour. Jack happened to be on Leonard -Street at the moment and he saw her. He couldn’t understand what she -was doing there, but after questioning her for some time, she told him -that a tall man bought her candy and then took her for a walk and then -he left her all alone at almost the end of the town.” - -“And so you three became detectives and undertook to find the man, -isn’t that so?” commented the chief, smiling. - -“Yes, but wait a minute. This man had given Betty a blank, white card.” - -“Here it is,” cried Jack, and threw the card on the desk. - -The chief and the detective glanced at it casually. “Go on,” said the -chief. - -“Several days later,” continued Paul, “there was a fire on Water Street -and—” - -“Yes. I remember that,” said the chief. “And you very bravely ran into -the burning house and saved an old couple and an infant. That was a -very brave deed, my boy.” - -“The important thing,” said Paul, “is that in the door of the room -where the infant was, I found another card like that.” He searched -in his pocket and produced the evidence. The chief and the detective -examined the two cards. “And to make a long story short,” continued -Paul, “there was a robbery at Professor Link’s and—” - -“And you found another such card,” said the chief, interrupting. - -“Yes.” - -“But that is no evidence; it means nothing,” said the chief. “You can -find cards like these everywhere you go, by the dozen.” - -“Well, that may be so,” said Paul. “But to us it was evidence, and -we figured that the same man committed all the three crimes. And we -decided to track him down.” - -“Why didn’t you come to us and tell us?” demanded Chief Bates. - -Paul was perspiring. He was very tense and he felt that he was being -hindered rather than helped. “Well, I don’t know,” he remarked, “I -guess we didn’t think of it.” - -“Didn’t think of it!” exclaimed the chief. - -Jack saw how his friend was suffering and he jumped to his feet and -cried, “What difference does all that make? The important thing is that -we discovered the gang of counterfeiters and if you don’t act quickly -they will escape.” - -“I’m sorry for interrupting,” said the chief, somewhat embarrassed. “Go -on with your story.” - -“Well, we came across this man. To us he is known as Mr. Grey. And—” - -“And how did you come across him and how did you know it was he?” - -“There are a lot of little details that I’m leaving out to make the -story short. At any rate, Jack followed him one night to the empty -house at 752 York Street. We searched the house several times until we -found the secret door to the cellar. And that’s the end of the story.” - -“Well, there are some other things too, but we can tell you that later.” - -The chief and the detective eyed each other. Detective Spencer asked, -“Do you happen by any chance to know any of the members of this -counterfeit gang?” - -Paul nodded. “Yes,” he answered. “The fellow they call the boss and who -seems to be the chief is a big, fat, dark featured individual. The—” - -Chief Bates and the detective exclaimed simultaneously, “Moonshine -Charlie!” - -“Two other men call themselves Pete and Joe. Another member of the gang -is a man who runs a grocery store at Main and Jones Streets.” - -“Don’t forget Mr. Grey,” added Jack. - -Paul nodded and said, “That’s right, and Mr. Grey. That’s all we know.” - -“That’s plenty,” cried Jim Spencer. “Where is their hangout?” - -“At 752 York Street; in the cellar.” - -Just then they were interrupted by the entrance of the secretary, who -said, “A gentleman to see you, Mr. Bates. He—” - -The man was directly behind her and he said, “Never mind telling who I -am and what my business is. I’ll do it myself.” - -Everybody looked at the speaker. The boys jumped to their feet as if -they had been touched by an electric spark. Simultaneously, they all -cried, “Mr. Grey!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -MR. GREY - - -Indeed, it was Mr. Grey. He stood there looking at them, smiling, -self-confident. By now the chief and Jim Spencer had also jumped to -their feet. Everyone was staring speechless at the gaunt man. Jack -cried, “Who are you?” - -The chief added, “Yes, tell us who you are and what you want.” - -Mr. Grey walked over to the desk. Pausing for a moment to eye the -secretary, she blushed and left the room. When the door was closed, he -took a badge out of his pocket and showed it to the chief. - -“Oh!” exclaimed the chief. “I’m glad to meet you.” - -“Who is he, Chief Bates?” demanded Jack. - -“A government man,” was the snappy retort. - -“Then why did we find him among the gang?” demanded Jack. “Anyone can -get himself a badge. Let him really identify himself.” - -They all eyed Mr. Grey. Paul and Ken felt horrified by Jack’s demand -but they felt that he was right, reasonable. Wasn’t it possible for him -to pass off as a government man and yet be in reality a member of the -gang? Mr. Grey said smilingly, “That boy will some day make a very good -sleuth.” - -“Well, you’re wrong,” retorted Jack. “I’m going to study to be a -doctor.” - -That set everybody to laughing. Addressing Chief Bates, Mr. Grey asked, -“What have the boys been telling you?” - -This time Paul was on his feet. He felt that Jack was correct in his -demand that the man identify himself further. And the fact that the -man was trying to evade it, aroused his own suspicions. “Why don’t you -identify yourself?” he demanded. “How do we know who you are? For all -we know, you may be a member of the gang, as we have thought right -along, and only pretending that you are a government man.” - -Mr. Grey raised his eyebrows but did not lose any of his equanimity. He -smiled and seemed perfectly at ease. The chief remarked humorously, “It -seems that this thing has passed completely out of my hands. So you two -had better settle the issue.” - -Mr. Grey said, “These boys are all right. No. As a matter of fact, they -are better than that. They are shrewd, fine detectives. You ought to -acquire them for your force, Chief.” - -He took his coat off and ripped the seam open. Producing several -papers, he handed them to Chief Bates, who looked them over carefully. -Then Mr. Grey rolled up the sleeve of his right arm and revealed a red -gash of about two inches long. The chief was convinced. “Good!” he -exclaimed. Addressing the boys, he said, “He has identified himself -beyond any doubt.” - -The boys were satisfied. Jack said, “All right, now we know. But do you -mind, Mr. er—” - -“Mr. Grey.” - -“Do you mind Mr. Grey, telling us the mystery of the white cards, your -being with the grocery man who is a member of the gang and—” - -“When the time comes, my boy,” he answered, “you will know everything. -In the meanwhile, may I repeat my former question. What have the boys -been telling you?” - -Chief Bates cleared his throat. With a twinkle in his eye, he remarked, -“They have been giving me a cock and bull story about a gang of -counterfeiters.” - -“Well, it just happens to be true,” announced Mr. Grey. - -For a short while there was silence, as though they were all overcome -by the government man’s statement. “Is it the Moonshine Charlie gang?” -asked Jim Spencer. - -“That’s right,” answered Mr. Grey. “And I’m here to ask you for ten men -to round up the gang.” - -“Right away?” asked Chief Bates. - -“Right away.” - -“Jim,” said the chief, addressing his detective, “round up ten men and -get them ready. What else, Mr. Grey?” - -“Nothing else,” he answered. “That is, for the present.” Addressing the -boys, he said, “Well, fellows, how do you think we ought to go about -it? But before we discuss that, may I know who you are?” - -Paul rose. “My name is Paul—Paul Morrison. And I’m glad to know you, -Mr. Grey.” - -“Thank you. You fellows have done some very good work.” - -“And this is Jack Stormways,” introduced Paul. - -The two shook hands. Jack remarked, “I’m not going to say I’m glad to -know you, but rather glad to meet you. After having followed you so -much, I think I know you by now.” - -Mr. Grey smiled. “Yes,” said Mr. Grey, “you have followed me around a -great deal and rather expertly, too.” - -“Thank you,” said Jack, grinning with pleasure. - -“And this is Ken Armstrong.” - -The two shook hands. “Now,” said Mr. Grey, “how are we going to finish -the job and capture the gang? What’s your idea, fellows?” - -Paul said, “I guess you ought to know that better than any of us. We -will leave that to you.” - -“Just one favor,” exclaimed Jack. - -“What?” - -“May we go along? I’d like to be in on it.” - -Mr. Grey and the chief exchanged glances. The chief shook his head. -“It’s going to be dangerous,” remarked Mr. Grey. - -“Any more dangerous than what we have already done?” asked Jack. - -“There may be shooting. And you might get hurt.” - -“I guess we could keep out of the way. We might keep in the background.” - -“Well,” conceded Mr. Grey, “if the chief has no objections, I’ll get -you into action somehow.” The chief shrugged his shoulders. “After -all,” he commented, “who am I to deny them their fun?” - -“That’s swell,” cried Jack. - -Just then, Detective Spencer returned to the office and announced that -everything was ready. “I’ll tell you what you can do first, boys. -Suppose Paul and Ken and two officers go down to the grocery store at -Jones Street and arrest Harriman, the grocery man. If he isn’t in the -store, he is upstairs, in the first room on your right.” - -“And what am I going to do?” asked Jack. - -“You will come with me,” said the government man. - -The boys rose. “Are we all ready?” asked the chief. “Because I’m also -going along.” - -“If you will excuse me,” said Mr. Grey, “I don’t think you should.” - -“All right. If you insist.” - -“For best interest all around.” - -The chief nodded. Addressing the boys, he said, “Well, fellows, it -seems that you were right and I want to apologize for questioning you -and doubting you. And let me tell you that I appreciate everything -you have done and I shall see to it that you are in some small way -rewarded.” - -The boys beamed with delight. Mr. Grey remarked, “They certainly -deserve it, Chief. You ought to make them honorary members of your -force.” - -“Now, that’s a serious thing,” answered Chief Bates hesitantly. “But I -shall certainly consider it.” - -“Well, goodbye,” said Ken. “Thanks for listening to our story.” - -“The thanks is all on my side,” returned the Chief. “And good luck.” - -They left the office. In the waiting room, Mr. Grey whispered something -in the secretary’s ear and she blushed and waved him away. In the -corridor, they walked to the rear of the building, where autos and -policemen, armed, waited for them. Mr. Grey gave the necessary orders, -and with screaming sirens, they were off. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -PAUL HELPS OUT - - -Paul and Ken had entered a large automobile with three detectives. One -was driving, while the other two talked to the boys. The other cars -went west to drive, at the direction of Mr. Grey, a roundabout way. -The single auto drove along Main Street. The driver did not use his -siren, preferring to proceed quietly and arouse no curiosity. Detective -Walters, who was in charge of the detail asked Paul, “You know this -fellow Harriman, the grocery store keeper, don’t you? You could easily -identify him, couldn’t you?” - -“Oh, yes, very easily.” - -“Fine, then you and I will enter the store and pick him up. As for you -boys,” meaning his fellow policemen, “one of you will cover the front -of the house, and the other, the rear of the house. As for you, young -fellow,” and he addressed Ken, “you know how to drive a car, don’t you?” - -“Yes, of course. I drive my dad’s car all the time.” - -“That’s fine. You stay in the car. Get behind the wheel and if there is -any chasing to do, you will drive the car. Everybody now knows what he -is to do?” he asked, looking from one man to the other. - -“Yes,” was the answer of all of them. - -The boys felt excited. They liked the way Walters treated them. They -felt as though they were members of the force with certain jobs -assigned to them. They looked forward to doing as well as they could. - -The next moment the car came to a halt at the corner across from -the grocery store. Paul immediately jumped out of the car with the -detectives and Ken at once took his place behind the steering wheel. -The detectives carried no rifles as they did not wish to arouse -suspicion. They were merely armed with their service revolvers which -they held ready in their coat pockets. - -Walters waited for his mates to take their places and then he nodded -to each one of them in turn. To Paul, he whispered hurriedly, “In case -of trouble, take shelter right away; get out of the way of the line of -fire. You understand?” - -“Yes, sir,” was his meek reply. - -Paul felt a wave of excitement. He felt a little anxious and hoped -everything would pass off quietly without anyone coming to harm. - -Walters, with Paul at his side, started to cross the street toward -the grocery store. They mounted the sidewalk and approached the door. -Suddenly a shot rang out, fired, so it seemed to Paul, point blank at -them. Immediately Walters, with his left hand, shoved Paul to one side -and sent him sprawling. As for himself, he dodged behind the wall. -Evidently, the grocery man had seen them coming and had realized who -they were and what they were up to. And it further seemed that he did -not intend to give up without a violent struggle. Walters shouted, -“Come on out or we are coming in to get you.” - -For an answer another shot rang out. Harriman meant business and no -fooling. Walters signalled to his fellow detectives covering the front -of the house and the man crawled across the street to the car at the -curb. “Duck,” he said to Ken. - -Ken complied and lowered himself in the car. The detective took out -two rifles, a couple of boxes of ammunition which he shoved into his -pocket and a square box. With this load he crept back into position. -Suddenly Walters ran across the front of the store and joined him. The -next instant a shot rang out. But it was too late. Walters was safe and -sheltered by lying flat on the ground behind the curb. “Come on out,” -he called for a second time, “or we’ll give you the works.” - -Again the answer was a shot. Walters picked up a small stone lying -nearby, and, without raising himself, threw it and shattered the -window. Several shots rang out and Walters and his mate returned the -fire just to impress the gangster. - -In the meanwhile, the detective who covered the rear of the house, had -also run back of the car, got himself a rifle, a box of cartridges and -a square box similar to the one taken by his fellow detective. In an -instant he returned to his position. - -Walters shouted, “Harriman, if you don’t come out willingly, you’ll be -carried out.” - -No answer. For several tense moments there was silence. A number of -people had collected on the opposite sidewalk and Ken waved to them -to get out of the way. The next moment he tore open the square box -and took out what looked like a baseball and threw it into the store -through the broken window. There was an explosion and a cloud of smoke -rose. An instant later, two women burst through the door; they were -coughing frantically and rubbing their eyes. One of the women was -the wife of the grocery man, the other a customer who by chance had -happened to be in the store at the moment. Walters shouted to them, -“This way. Come here.” - -The other detective took the two women and led them to the automobile. -“Stay here,” he told them. - -Taking out his revolver, he gave it to Ken and said, “Now be careful. -Keep the women here and don’t let them get away. You understand?” - -Ken gripped the weapon and nodded, “Yes, sir.” - -The detective then stole back to his position. But just then, a cry -arose from the rear of the house. Harriman appeared at the back of the -house and was surprised by the detective who now shouted to Walters -the news. Walters left his mate to cover the front and ran to the -empty lot adjoining the corner house. Harriman, in an effort to escape -the tear gas inside the store, rushed out of the rear door and took a -position behind a cluster of bricks that seemed to form a very natural -fortress. He was cornered, but it seemed that he refused to surrender -without a violent struggle. It also seemed that he was very well armed, -having two revolvers and plenty of ammunition. - -Shots continued to ring out in an exchange of fire. Walters looked -around for a way of getting at the gangster’s rear. There was only one -way and that was through the house. But immediately Walters realized -that to move out of his shelter behind a tree would take him into the -open and make of him a very simple target. It occurred to him that he -was now just as well cornered as his prey and that the only alternative -was to shoot it out, unless of course the detective left to guard the -front of the house took the initiative and got at Harriman’s rear. - -Now let us see what happened to Paul in the meanwhile. When Walters -pushed him and sent him sprawling, he was on the side of the house -facing Main Street. He wondered what he could do. His investigation -several days before had revealed to him the door at the rear of the -house. But he thought that the grocery man, realizing the odds against -him, would certainly surrender. He had no idea that Harriman would -be so stubborn and defy the policemen. But he did. And the more Paul -waited for the gangster to surrender, the more he realized that the -grocery store keeper was bent on violence. After the barrage of tear -gas and the cry announcing the gangster at the rear of the house, he -lifted himself slightly off the ground and made sure of the exact spot -where Harriman had barricaded himself. - -Thinking quickly, he rushed to the corner and waved to the detective, -hoping that the man would understand what he was up to. The next moment -he rushed into the hall of the house where the stairs were leading -upstairs. He figured that there must be a door leading from the hall -into the store. But he didn’t want to get into the store. And he tried -to think how Harriman had escaped from the store to the rear of the -house. He looked around. There was only one door at the end of the -hall. Approaching noiselessly, he pulled the door open. To his complete -amazement, he was directly behind the gangster who was absorbed by -the fire of the detectives. Without hesitating or giving Harriman a -chance to realize his danger, Paul let out a most horrible shriek and -threw himself on the gangster. Harriman looked up, his face pale and -frightened. He turned to fire at Paul, but it was too late. The boy was -already on top of him and pinning his arms. - -Harriman was a bulky, strong individual. With Paul on top of him, he -rose and was on the point of whirling his assailant off. But by this -time the two detectives were also on top of him and pinned his arms. -Paul slipped off the gangster’s back. In an instant Walters slapped -handcuffs on the gangster. Turning to Paul, he cried, “You fool!” - -Paul smiled and appeared quite calm and confident. Walters slapped him -on the back and together they escorted the criminal to the automobile, -while the other detective began to pick up Harriman’s guns and -ammunition. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -BATTLE - - -Siren screaming, Ken drove the car down Main Street and to police -headquarters. Chief Bates met them and congratulated them on their -capture. “Any trouble, boys?” he asked. - -Walters smiled and said, “It seems, Chief, that we couldn’t get along -without these youngsters.” He pointed to Paul, and asked, “Do you know -what he did, this kid?” - -The chief shook his head and asked, “What did he do? Get into trouble -again or something?” - -“Well, if it wasn’t for him,” was the answer, “we would still be there -pegging away at each other. That kid up and jumped the gangster. All we -had to do was to take him into custody.” - -The chief laughed uproariously. “Some detectives you are!” he -exclaimed. “Letting a kid do your work!” - -“I tell you, Chief, there is no getting away with it—these kids are -the tops,” said Walters, slapping Paul on the back. - -“But seriously, though,” remarked the chief, “I don’t want you fellows -to get into any trouble. Do you hear me?” he demanded, pretending he -was being tough on them. “You have done enough and I want you to keep -out of harm.” - -Paul smiled. “All right, Chief,” he said. “Did you hear from the -others?” - -“No, I didn’t,” he answered. Addressing his detectives, he said, “You -boys better run down there and give them a hand if they need it.” - -“May we go along?” asked Ken. - -“All right. I guess these detectives of mine wouldn’t be able to find -the place or know what to do without you.” They all laughed heartily. -“But don’t get into more trouble, do you hear me, you two?” - -The three detectives and Paul and Ken got into the car and rode off. -At their destination, they came upon a pitched battle. It seemed that -the gang was a tough bunch and ready to battle the law rather than -surrender in spite of the heavy odds against them. - -At the corner of York Street, when the police cars arrived, they -stopped and Mr. Grey had issued instructions. Four of the detectives -he instructed to take up varying positions across the street from the -house which led to the secret door. Accompanied by three more policemen -and Jack, he went to 752 York Street. The detectives he told to deploy -around the house and Jack he warned to keep out of the way. On second -thought, he turned to Jack and said, “You go back there and watch those -automobiles.” - -Reluctantly, Jack went to obey and sat himself in the second car. He -wanted to be in on the action, but he realized why the government -agent wanted him out of the way. - -The detectives were armed with rifles and sub-machine guns. Mr. Grey -looked around to see if all his men were in position. He gave the -signal for all of them to be on the alert. Gripping his revolver, he -entered the empty house and left the door open. Noiselessly, he opened -the trap door and descended the stairs. The cellar was lit up and that -told him that the gangsters were there. As far as he knew, Joe and Pete -were surely there, but he didn’t know whether Moonshine Charlie himself -was there. He paused to listen, and only the voices of the two reached -him. For several seconds he debated with himself whether to wait until -the arrival of the boss. On the other hand, he thought, he might seize -the two and then let Moonshine Charlie walk into a trap. - -Descending noiselessly, he came to the bottom of the stairs. The two -gangsters were at the table, Pete with his right side toward Mr. Grey -and Joe having his back toward the agent. Mr. Grey levelled his gun and -muttered threateningly, “Put your hands up, boys. Quick. Reach for the -ceiling and no monkey business.” - -The two gangsters jumped to their feet and put their hands up above -their heads. Pete cried, “What the—What’s all this about?” - -“You’ll find out right away,” was the answer. Mr. Grey saw them edging -toward the back of the table and he warned them, “Don’t you move or -I’ll plug you.” - -But the next instant Pete turned over the table with his leg and the -two gangsters threw themselves behind it. Mr. Grey fired, the bullet -burying itself in the wooden table. Pete fired back and the government -agent threw himself on the floor and crept behind the stairs for -protection. “The house is surrounded,” he told them. “You had better -surrender if you want to get out alive.” - -Pete tossed back, “Like hell!” - -He fired and Mr. Grey returned. Pulling the table along, they moved -gradually back toward the secret door. The government agent realized -that their escape through the tunnel into the next house was safe and -sure; there was nothing he could do about it. So he let them work their -way gradually back. Joe raised his arms to pull open the door and the -next moment he grabbed it away, letting out a yell. Mr. Grey had fired -and the bullet had pierced the gangster’s hand. But the door was now -ajar, and in a moment they pulled it open and escaped. - -Mr. Grey ran forward and whatever he could find, he piled up against -the door, shutting off their return into the cellar. The gangsters were -now trapped in the second house. The government man ran up the stairs, -and cautiously emerged from the house, to make sure his own men did not -fire on him. Coming out into the open, he directed his men to close up -on the house. - -In the meanwhile, the gangsters, realizing that their escape was cut -off at both ends, set up sub-machine guns at both ends of the house and -began to rake every inch of ground within sight. The detectives got -busy. Several of them used their own sub-machine guns. Others, picking -up stones wherever they found them, managed to break every window in -the house. - -The detectives ripped open the square boxes and began to throw tear -gas into the house through the open windows. Several of the bombs fell -short of the house, and pretty soon the whole house was enveloped in -thick clouds of smoke. There was no wind and the smoke hung in the air -in and around the house. Within five minutes, both gangsters stumbled -out of the doorway, coughing hard and trying hard to keep their hands -above their heads. - -Several of the detectives immediately ran forward and grabbed them, at -the same time dragging them away from the clouds of tear gas. They were -immediately surrounded and handcuffed. Just then a siren screamed and -everyone turned to see what was happening. - -Jack was sitting in the car and watched the battle. He was glad now -that he was at a safe distance. It was too bloody an affair for him. -After a while, he leaned back in the seat and paid no attention to -what was going on. He waited for the finish and for the detectives to -return. He heard the crackling of rifle fire and the explosion of -bombs. - -Resting in the back seat of the automobile he only hoped that no -one would be hit and that all would turn out well. Why couldn’t the -gangsters give up, he thought to himself. Couldn’t they see that the -odds were against them? And even if they should escape this time, which -was impossible, they would still be hunted and caught by the police of -some other town or city. - -Jack leaned forward and peeked out of the window. He caught his breath -and became tense. There was a man across the street who looked very -familiar and appeared to be exceedingly interested in the battle that -was going on between the criminals and the police. The man, tall, fat, -husky, stood in front of a roadster that evidently belonged to him. -“Moonshine Charlie,” Jack thought to himself. - -Yet he had not heard the man drive up. It was because he was absorbed -in his own thoughts. Now what am I to do? What can I do? These -questions came to Jack’s mind, yet he found no answer. It was no use -to call one of the detectives; the gangster might disappear in the -meanwhile. What could he do? - -Jack became conscious of the fact that the firing had ceased. He saw -the fat man get into his car and drive off, turning into the next -corner. Jack jumped to the wheel, set off the siren screaming and was -immediately chasing the gangster. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -INTO THE LAKE - - -The detectives were startled by the sound of the siren but it -immediately put them on their guard. Seeing the car which Moonshine -Charlie was driving, tearing down the street, they thought something -was wrong and they threw themselves to the ground. The gangster -was bent on revenge, though there was little he could do. His plan -evidently was to drive by the group of detectives, and through the open -window of his car, fire on them as he passed. It was a violent gesture, -born of hate and contempt. - -The detectives threw themselves on the ground, dragging the two -gangsters down with them. Moonshine Charlie fired four or five times -as he sped by, but all his shots were futile and hurt no one. However, -Jack was only a couple of yards behind him. The boy slowed down as he -came alongside a group of policemen. Mr. Grey jumped forth and leaped -onto the running board. “Drive!” he cried. - -The car leaped forward and flew out of sight. The gangster kept -speeding straight ahead. Jack kept his siren screaming and hoped no one -would get in his way. Mr. Grey assured himself of a firm hold and then -turned his attention to the fleeing automobile ahead of him. The police -car was much more powerful and Jack was gaining gradually. Mr. Grey -aimed and then fired, but with no result. - -Moonshine Charlie turned the next corner on two wheels. Jack was after -him. The gangster began to zigzag and that was to his disadvantage -because that enabled Jack to gain considerable distance on him. Mr. -Grey fired a second time, but again, the shot had no effect. Suddenly -Jack caught his breath. Moonshine Charlie had turned a corner. The boy -knew that it was a dead end street and unless the gangster slowed up, -the car would run straight into the lake. - -Jack slowed up as he turned the corner. Mr. Grey of course did not -realize why, but as soon as the corner was turned, he saw for himself. -The gangster didn’t know it was a dead end street. It was too late -when he realized it. Slamming on the brakes, the car seemed to shiver -and bounce into the air. Evidently Moonshine Charlie had lost control -of his machine, for it ran onto the sidewalk, almost crashed into the -brick wall of a house, and then leaped through the wooden fence and -into the lake. - -Jack pulled the car up to the curb and stopped. Mr. Grey and he rushed -up to the lake. The terrible splash of the water caused by the plunging -automobile was already becoming calm. Jack stared at the approximate -spot and shivered. Mr. Grey asked, “Anything wrong, fellow?” - -“No,” was the meek answer. There was a short silent pause, then he -remarked with deep feeling, “It’s a terrible death.” - -The government agent nodded silently, then replied, “He lived a -terrible life.” - -By now a crowd had gathered and several reporters and photographers -had arrived. Mr. Grey and Jack pushed their way through and drove off -again. “Shall we go back and see if the men are still there?” asked -Jack. - -Mr. Grey nodded. “Yes, let’s go back.” - -For a short while they drove along in silence. Jack felt so shaken -by the incident that he drove the car at a very slow pace. The agent -commented, “It’s a good thing you happened to be there on the spot, or -else he would have gotten away and might also have wounded some of the -men.” - -“Yes,” answered Jack ironically, “I thought I was safely out of it when -bang, there. I was right in it.” - -Mr. Grey regained his good humor and laughed. “It seems that we can’t -get along without you fellows. You boys have done more in the capture -of the gang than I and the detectives did. I wonder if they got -Harriman all right.” - -“I don’t suppose they had any difficulty,” was Jack’s opinion. - -“I’m not so sure of that,” was the contrary opinion. “Harriman was a -violent sort of person, very temperamental and brutal. But for that -matter they all were. A tough bunch they were.” - -They arrived at the scene of the battle. The change was now so vastly -different, that Mr. Grey commented upon the fact, “Suddenly, everything -is again quiet and serene. Isn’t it wonderful?” - -Jack was silent. There was no one in view and they assumed that the -detectives with their prisoners had returned to police headquarters. -Mr. Grey suggested that they enter the house and see what was inside. -Jack had no objection and together they mounted the few steps to the -porch and entered the house. The door opened on a small foyer, with -stairs leading up to the rooms above. On their left was a door which -Mr. Grey opened and they entered. The room was fairly well furnished -as a living room, but now, after the battle, it was in considerable -disorder. - -They went from room to room and then upstairs. They were all fairly -well furnished. Except for the two rooms which were used by the -gangsters in their struggle with the police, the furniture was not at -all disturbed. Jack asked, “Did the gangsters occupy this house?” - -“In a fashion. But they didn’t live here,” the agent informed him. -“Actually they lived at the hotel, but they used this house from which -to carry on their operations. Let’s go, shall we?” - -They returned to their car and drove back to police headquarters. -There they found that the prisoners had been brought in and put in -jail; not one of the detectives had been hurt. The chief greeted them -and shook Mr. Grey’s hand. “Great work,” he said, “great work. Did you -get Moonshine Charlie?” - -The government agent shook his head sadly and replied, “No, I’m sorry -to say I didn’t.” He turned to Jack for confirmation. “You see,” he -continued, “he got away. We were just about to grab him when phizz, up -he goes and jumps into the lake.” - -“Jumps into the lake!” exclaimed the chief. - -“Yes,” was the answer. “You see, he was going so fast, he couldn’t stop -himself.” - -“He fell in, car and all,” added Jack. - -Chief Bates heaved a sigh of relief. “Whew! For a moment you had me -thinking that he actually got away.” - -“Well, he did,” insisted Mr. Grey. “He got away so cleanly, no one will -ever catch him again.” - -The chief and the detectives laughed. Catching sight of Jack, the chief -pulled him forward and shook him by the hand. “I already heard of what -you did, fellow,” he said. “That was very bravely done.” - -“As I was telling him just before,” commented Mr. Grey, “I don’t know -what we would have done without him and his friends. They did more to -capture the gang than all of us put together.” - -“You didn’t hear all of it,” exclaimed the chief. “Did you hear what -his friend, Paul Morrison, did?” - -Jack nodded and wondered what Paul had been up to now. “What this -fellow, Paul, did?” continued the chief. “He went with three men to -take Harriman into custody. Well, this fellow put up a tough battle. -To make a long story short, he came out of the rear of his store, -barricaded himself and fired shot for shot. They might still be there -shooting it out if it wasn’t for this fellow. He sneaked up on his -rear, jumped the gangster, and bingo! there he was all captured and no -longer tough and fighting.” - -Mr. Grey laughed heartily. “These fellows,” he remarked, “are showing -us all up. Did I say before you ought to make them honorary members of -your force? I take it back. They would show your men up so, the whole -force would soon be plagued with an inferiority complex.” - -The chief roared and slapped his knee. “That’s a good one,” he cried. - -Jack said, “By the way, where are Ken and Paul?” - -“They are in the detectives’ room. Shall I call them? Do you want them?” - -“Well, it’s about time we went home.” - -Mr. Grey laughed. “Notice how calm and nonchalant he is and with what -poise he said that,” commented the government agent. “The job is done, -nothing else to do, so it’s about time to go home, just like that.” - -Jack blushed and Chief Bates laughed. “Well,” he said, “there is really -no reason why the boys should not go home.” - -“No, I guess not. I think they deserve it.” - -“Yes.” The chief winked to the government agent. “I think I will send -them home in an official car.” - -“Oh, that isn’t necessary at all,” cried Jack. “We can just as well -walk home.” - -He rose to his feet as if he intended to leave. “Now you just sit -there,” said the chief. Opening the door of his office, he called his -secretary to have the boys come in. - -Chief Bates and the government agent continued their joking. A minute -later Jack and Ken and Walters entered. “Oh, there you are,” cried -Paul. “We didn’t know where you were and what happened to you.” - -“Yes,” added Ken, “we were waiting for you.” - -“Well, here I am,” Jack informed his friends, “and I think it’s time we -went home.” - -Chief Bates, addressing the detective, said, “Walters, will you please -take the boys home?” - -“Oh, that isn’t necessary at all,” cried Paul. “Thanks all the same. -But we can walk home.” - -“Notice the modesty of them,” remarked Mr. Grey. “It’s really funny.” - -The chief laughed. “All right,” said Walters, “if you’re ready, let’s -go.” - -Chief Bates came around the desk and shook hands with them. “Any time I -can do anything for you boys,” he said seriously, “don’t forget to call -on me.” - -“And when you want some good detective work done,” intervened Mr. Grey, -“you call on them.” - -The boys were beginning to feel uncomfortable. The government agent -rose and approached them. “Well, boys,” he said, “it was a real -pleasure to work with you.” He paused for a second, then added, “The -only trouble of collaborating with you is that you do all the work and -leave the other fellow nothing to do.” - -There was laughter all around. Then Jack said, “Mr. Grey, you must not -forget that we want to talk some things over with you. There are a -couple of mysterious details that we think, you can clear up for us.” - -The man bowed low and replied, “I am at your disposal, sir.” - -“Perhaps you might visit us tonight at my house,” added Paul. “Then you -could tell us everything.” - -“That’s right,” nodded Ken. “How about it?” - -“I shall be there at eight sharp, gentlemen.” - -The boys smiled at the man’s behavior. He was really lots of fun. They -said goodbye all around and left, accompanied by Walters. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -TROUBLE AT HOME - - -The boys got into the official car with Walters at the wheel. Jack and -Ken sat in the back while Paul sat in the front with the driver. Paul -remarked, “Now that all that is done, our real work begins.” - -“What do you mean?” asked Ken. - -“Do you remember what we originally started out to solve?” Paul asked. - -“I was just thinking of that,” muttered Jack. “We have gotten as far -away from the original mystery as we could.” - -“What are you kids talking about?” asked Walters. - -“Well,” said Paul for the detective’s information, “we happened to -discover the gang of counterfeiters by....” - -“You don’t mean to tell me that it was you fellows who discovered -them!” exclaimed the detective. - -“Well, in a small way, yes.” - -“That’s a rich one,” was Walters’ retort. “But go on with what you were -saying.” - -“What I was going to say,” continued Paul, “was that some maniac has -been roaming through town and doing things, always leaving a white card -to mark his visit there.” - -“You don’t say!” remarked Walters. “And you’re trying to track him -down?” - -“That’s right.” - -“How did you find out about this fellow with the white card?” - -“Well, do you remember when Ken’s little sister, Betty, was reported -missing for about an hour and then turned up again?” - -“Why, yes, I remember the case. And I don’t think anything was done -about it.” - -“No,” said Paul. “But that’s how we began our investigation that led up -to the discovery of 752 York Street.” - -“Now that’s very interesting,” commented the detective. “How did it -happen?” - -“Well, you see, Jack found her all the way out on Leonard Street. -Questioning her, she told him that a man bought her candy and then took -her for a walk and left her there.” - -“And then what?” - -“Well, the man also gave her a white card. And that’s how our -investigation began.” - -“Wait a minute,” cried Jack, flushed with excitement. “Do you remember -that all along we have been thinking that Mr. Grey was that man and -that is why we were following him and all that, just waiting to jump on -him?” - -Ken exclaimed, “Why that is right, come to think of it.” - -Walters laughed. “So Mr. Grey is the guilty party. That’s good.” - -And he laughed some more. “What are we going to do, Paul?” - -“We will just have to ask him, I guess,” was the reply. “I imagine he -will be able to clear up a lot of details for us.” - -“Yes,” said Ken, “but you don’t think he was responsible for the fires -and the robbery at Professor Link’s, do you?” - -“What about the fires and that robbery you are talking about?” asked -Walters. - -“We found that there have lately been more than an average number of -fires in town.” - -“That’s right,” agreed the detective. “I remember that Captain Bob has -spoken to the chief about it and I think that a detective has been put -on the case. I’ll find out who it is and tell him to look you up.” - -The detective treated it as a good joke. While he was still laughing -Paul remarked, “Yes, send him over. We may be able to give him some -valuable information.” - -The detective was still more amused and the boys laughed too. “That’s -right, Walters,” echoed Ken, “some day when you have a case you can’t -solve, call on us.” - -“I think we have been talking too much,” replied the detective. - -The car pulled up to the curb in front of the Morrison home. Paul and -Ken, who lived across the street, jumped out. They waved to Jack and -Walters as the car sped away to deliver the last of the trio home. - -Paul rushed into the house and upstairs to his room. His mother as yet -knew nothing about her son’s adventure. Later on, she called him to -dinner. Dr. Morrison walked in. Seeing his son, he exclaimed, “Well, -well! Permit me to congratulate you, my boy. I didn’t know we had a -hero in the family.” - -Paul blushed and became very busy with his grape fruit. Mrs. Morrison -asked innocently, “A hero in the family? What are you talking about?” - -Dr. Morrison waved a newspaper. “Just take a look at the evening paper -and you’ll see. His picture is in there and the whole story of how he -and his friends captured a gang of counterfeiters.” - -Paul’s head sunk lower. So his picture was in the paper! He wondered -how the reporters got it and whether Jack’s and Ken’s pictures were -also in the paper. He was itching to read what the papers had to -say about the affair. But his mother grabbed the newspaper and read -it breathlessly. A minute later she looked up and demanded, “Paul -Morrison! Will you please tell me what this is all about?” - -Paul shook his head meekly. “Why nothing, Mother,” he whispered. “It -just happened that I....” - -He faltered and his mother said, “It just happened! I will be very glad -to see you go off to college. You will be too busy there to get into -mischief.” - -But the next moment she smiled sweetly and and came around the table -and kissed him. Dr. Morrison was beaming. He had always been proud of -his son. He said, addressing his wife, “He is all right; he is one boy -who can take care of himself.” - -“I’m sure of that,” answered Mrs. Morrison, “but for my peace of mind -I wish he would keep out of trouble. I hope college will do that—keep -him out of mischief.” - -Just then the maid entered and announced that Paul was wanted on the -telephone. He went into the foyer and picked up the receiver. It was -Jack. “Hello.” - -“Hello, Paul. Are you in trouble with your family about the affair?” - -“A little.” - -“Well, so am I. Goodbye.” - -Paul went back to the dining room. His father said, “Now, since you -were a participant, do you mind telling us a few of the details?” So -Paul started in to relate the whole story. - -At the Armstrong home, it happened a little differently. Ken entered -the house and went to wash up. Soon his father returned home from -the office, carrying an evening paper. Looking around for his son, -he found the boy in the library reading a story to his little sister -Betty. Mr. Armstrong walked in, stood over the boy for several seconds, -pretending that he was going to give him a good verbal thrashing, then -exclaimed, “So! So you have decided to become a detective!” - -“What’s a defective?” Betty asked innocently. - -Ken and his father burst out laughing. Mr. Armstrong bent down and said -to the child, “Detective, honey. The word is detective.” - -Ken still laughed. He thought his little sister was cunning in the way -she had said it. Turning to his son, Mr. Armstrong asked, “Well, what -is it all about?” - -“What does the paper say?” asked Ken. - -“Here, see for yourself.” And Mr. Armstrong gave the evening paper to -his son. “Your picture is in it and Chief Bates is quoted as saying -that you were real heroes. Imagine it, my son a hero!” - -“Well, what’s wrong with that, Dad?” asked Ken. - -Just then Mrs. Armstrong entered. - -Mr. Armstrong said, “Will you come here a second, Mother? I want to -tell you something.” She came into the library. “Did you know that your -son is a hero?” asked her husband. - -“What did he do now?” she inquired calmly. - -“Give your mother the newspaper, Ken.” - -Mrs. Armstrong took the paper and glanced at the headlines and the -pictures. She said calmly, “Nothing surprises me. What these boys -can’t get into has not been invented yet. Come to dinner.” - -They rose to comply. Mr. Armstrong put an arm around the boy’s shoulder -and said, “You’re all right, son. But I do hope college will tame you -and your friends a bit.” - -They went into the dining room. When they were about half through the -meal Ken was called to the telephone. It was Jack. “Hello, Ken.” - -“Hello, Jack. What’s up?” - -“Are you having trouble with your family about that affair?” - -“No, not really. My father and mother took it very well.” - -“Well, I am. Goodbye.” - -Jack’s reception had been different. When he got into the house, he -found his mother waiting for him. One of the neighbors, who had been -out shopping returned home with an afternoon newspaper. She immediately -ran over to show Mrs. Stormways the headlines and the pictures of Jack -and his friends. Jack’s mother first became frightened, and was on the -point of calling Chief Bates to inquire further into the matter. But -then she thought it would be better to wait until her son returned. It -was evident that no harm had come to him, or it would have been in the -paper. - -She waited for her son. At last he came and she asked him, “Well, Jack -Stormways, what is this all about?” - -“What is what about, Mother?” - -He really did not know that the story was in the afternoon papers and -that his mother knew the situation. She showed him the paper with the -headlines and the pictures. His first comment was, “Not such a bad -picture of me and the boys, is it, Mother?” - -The remark took her breath away for a moment. His calmness and -self-assurance overwhelmed her. She smiled. “Is that all you can say -for yourself?” she asked. - -He went over and kissed her. “What can I say, Mother?” he replied. -“The story is right here and I guess I am guilty. But there was really -nothing to it. I merely helped a little to capture the gang.” - -“Just helped a little!” commented Mrs. Stormways. “You’re always taking -some sort of risk. I don’t know what will ever happen to you.” - -“Now, Mother,” pleaded Jack, “you know I can take care of myself.” - -“That’s just the trouble,” she replied. “You can take care of yourself -too well.” - -Just then Jack’s younger brother, aged thirteen, burst into the house. -Seeing Jack with his mother, he cried, “Say, I heard you were playing -cops and robbers; is it true?” - -Jack and his mother laughed. “Come on, Jack, tell me about it,” -insisted the boy. - -But Jack paid no attention to his brother. His mother said, “I just -wonder what your father will say when he comes home.” - -She walked out into the kitchen to continue her preparations for -dinner. In due time, Mr. Stormways came home carrying an evening paper -with him. As soon as he stepped into the house, his younger son cried, -“Did you hear, Dad? Jack has been playing cops and robbers.” - -“Yes, son, I heard all about it. Too much, in fact. What do you think -we ought to do about it?” - -“I think you ought to make him tell us all about it, Dad,” answered the -boy. “He wouldn’t tell me anything.” - -“All right, we’ll see what we can do about that. Where is he, by the -way?” - -“He is upstairs in his room. Shall I call him?” - -“Yes, do, son. Tell him to come down for dinner. I shall be in the -dining room.” - -Jack came downstairs. His father was at the table. As soon as he walked -into the room, his father rose and bowing, said, “May I congratulate -you? Will you please tell us how it feels to be a hero?” - -Jack blushed. “Oh, don’t do, that, Dad,” pleaded Jack. - -But Mr. Stormways was enjoying himself. “Sit down, my hero,” he said. -He led Jack to the head of the table and sat him down there, saying, -“Since you are now a hero, you shall preside over the dinner table.” -As Mrs. Stormways came in her husband called out, “An extra portion of -everything for the hero, my dear.” - -“Ah, Dad, don’t,” pleaded Jack. - -But Mr. Stormways was not to be dissuaded. Sitting down, he said, “Now -tell me, did you capture the gang all by yourself, or did someone help -you a little?” - -Jack smiled. He thought he might as well join in with his father’s -humor. “Well,” he answered, “Paul and Ken did help a little, but very -little.” - -“Just what I thought,” remarked his father. “And tell me another -thing,” continued Mr. Stormways, “did the gangsters run just as soon as -they saw you or did they hesitate for a little while?” - -“They immediately surrendered,” was the reply. - -“Now let me think,” mused his dad, “what else was there I wanted to -ask you. Oh, yes. I suppose, that as a reward for your bravery, the -president himself will no doubt come here to congratulate you and -bestow upon you the Congressional Medal of Honor, is that so?” - -“Well, I don’t know about that, Dad,” replied Jack. “I imagine -that he may be too busy to do that. But I am sure he will send a -representative.” - -There was a silent pause for a few seconds, then Mr. Stormways burst -out laughing. “Well, seriously, fellow,” he said, “don’t you think that -you ought to stop keeping company with gangsters and all that?” - -“I’ll try, Dad.” - -Just then Jack’s younger brother spoke up and asked for details of the -story and Jack complied by telling all of it. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -MYSTERY OF THE WHITE CARD - - -The boys were at the Morrison home waiting for Mr. Grey to appear. They -had hundreds of questions to ask him and they hoped that he would clear -up the mystery of the white card. But if he did not, they would be at -a loss as to what to do next. They would either have to give up or -commence their investigation all over again, and they were rather tired -of the thing by now. Jack remarked, “I still can’t understand how we -happened to come upon Mr. Grey and follow him. I don’t suppose he had -anything to do with the mystery of the white card.” - -“But it was you who originally began to follow him,” said Ken. - -“That’s right. But now that I think of it, I can’t understand how I -happened to pick on him.” - -“Betty described the man who took her for a walk as tall and thin,” -interposed Paul. - -“Yes, but there are many tall, thin men in town,” argued Jack. - -“And we came to the conclusion that the man who would start fires and -steal a single book must be a maniac of some sort.” - -Jack laughed. “Well, does Mr. Grey look like a maniac?” he asked. - -Paul smiled and remarked, “Well, he does look rather odd, tall and thin -as he is.” - -“All that doesn’t get us anywhere,” said Jack. - -“Well, let’s not come to any conclusions but wait until Mr. Grey -comes,” remarked Paul. - -“Yes, he’ll clear it all up for us.” - -About ten minutes later, the government agent arrived. He looked like a -changed man, dressed in a summer linen suit and his hair combed neatly -back. “Hello, fellows,” he greeted as he entered. - -“Hello, Mr. Grey,” returned Paul. “Won’t you sit down?” - -“Well, I’ll try,” he said as he took a seat, “but I’m afraid you -fellows are going to question me so much, you’ll have me standing on my -head.” - -“Then we’ll turn you over and sit you down again,” spoke up Jack. - -“Now, Mr. Grey,” began Paul, “and by the way, is that your real name?” - -“No, of course not. My name is George Wilson.” - -“Well, Mr. Wilson, we are mystified by a certain little thing,” -continued Paul, “and I wonder if you can clear it for us.” - -“Try me and we’ll see.” - -“The mystery of the white card,” Jack blurted out. “What is it all -about?” - -“What white card?” asked the agent mystified. - -“You don’t know?” cried Ken. - -The man shook his head in complete ignorance. “I’ll faint,” cried -Jack, falling back in his chair and pretending that he was actually -fainting. - -“Tell me what it is all about,” asked the government agent. “I don’t -even know what you are talking about.” - -“And we thought that you could give us the solution,” commented Jack. -“Now what are we going to do?” - -“Will you please let me in on it?” Mr. Wilson asked for the second time. - -“It’s like this,” began Paul, again explaining the whole thing, this -time for the benefit of Mr. Wilson. “About ten days ago, Ken’s little -sister, Betty, disappeared. Jack happened to find her all the way out -on Leonard Street. Questioning her, he found that a man had bought her -candy, taken her for a walk and left her there after he gave her a -blank white card.” - -“May I see the card?” asked Mr. Wilson. - -Paul took it out of his pocket and showed it to him. The agent glanced -at it and then said, “Go on.” - -“Well, several days later there happened to be a fire on Water Street -and I rushed into the building. To make the story short, inside that -burning house I found another white card, an exact duplicate of the -first one.” - -“What?” asked Mr. Wilson, his curiosity now aroused. “And then what?” - -“That isn’t all,” continued Paul. “The next day a robbery occurred at -Professor Link’s and all that was taken was a single book out of the -library. And what’s more, the same white card was left.” - -“But the point of the story is,” intervened Ken, “we thought all along -that you were the guilty person and that is how Jack began to follow -you.” - -“I!” cried the agent, aghast. “How do I come in on this?” - -“Well, sir,” spoke up Jack, “it was really all my fault. After talking -the thing over, we came to the conclusion that only a,—er,—a maniac -sort of person would do anything like that.” - -“And you took me for a maniac?” cried the agent, bursting out laughing. -“That’s a good one.” - -“I don’t think so,” replied Jack. - -“No, I agree with you,” said Mr. Wilson. “I don’t think it’s quite the -thing to be taken for a maniac. But go on.” - -“Well, sir,” continued Jack, “I began to follow you. And the first -night I followed you out to Waters Street, to the exact spot where the -fire occurred, and ...” - -“But you must be wrong,” cried Mr. Wilson, “because I don’t even know -where Waters Street is.” - -“You don’t know?” demanded Jack leaping out of his seat. - -The other boys also were by now out of their seats and staring dumbly -at Mr. Wilson. The agent said, “I remember that I was once followed by -one of you, I couldn’t say who. But I shook him off quickly. Then I -also remember that Paul approached me one day and asked me where Jones -Street was and I told him.” - -“My God!” cried Jack, “I have followed the wrong man all the time.” - -“Wait a minute,” Paul said tensely. “You haven’t followed the wrong -man. On the contrary. You know what?” They all looked at him curiously. -“There is a man in this town who looks very much like you, Mr. Wilson, -and I am convinced that he is the guilty party.” - -“Now that is interesting,” commented the agent. “I should certainly -like to meet him.” - -“Now let me ask you this,” said Paul. “You don’t know anything about -the fires nor about the robbery at Professor Link’s, do you?” - -“I most certainly don’t.” - -“Was it you who saved us when Jack and I were prisoners in the cellar?” - -“Yes, that was me.” - -“Well, wait a minute,” interrupted Ken. “Suppose you tell us how you -knew that the boys were being held there and how you came to know -Harriman and how you came to be a member of the gang?” - -“It’s this way, fellows,” began Mr. Wilson. “I was put on this case and -I followed the gang to this town. Looking around for a room I hired -one over the grocery store, from Harriman. At the time I did not know -that he was a member of the gang, but I soon found it out. Through -him, I came upon the gang. I became friends with Harriman and did him -a few favors. From then on, he trusted me. After I got on their trail, -I waited to get them with the goods—that is, they were then only -experimenting and not yet turning out counterfeit money. Just as soon -as they ran off some fake greenbacks, I got into action.” - -“How did you know, then, that we were being held in the cellar of the -empty house?” asked Paul. - -“You see, the gang had a room in the hotel. And I had a room next door. -And when Joe came and told Moonshine Charlie of holding you prisoners, -I rushed down and freed you.” - -“That’s plenty funny,” commented Jack. “If it was not you whom I was -following all the time, who then was it?” - -“That is something I should like to know myself,” replied the agent. - -“Another thing, Mr. Wilson,” said Paul. “Four days ago, I followed -Harriman. On the street, I noticed you—or was it you—passing him and -you nodded to each other. Now was it you or was it not you?” - -“No, it could not have been me,” was the answer, “because I remember -distinctly that I was at the hotel at the time listening in on -Moonshine and his gang.” - -“That’s right,” continued Paul. “Harriman did lead me to Main Street -where he met Moonshine, Joe and Pete. But if it was not you who nodded -to Harriman, then I am more convinced than ever that there is a man in -this town who looks very much like you. In fact he looks so much like -you that even Harriman mistook him for you.” - -“Now that is very interesting,” Mr. Wilson said. “We will have to do -something about it.” - -“But here is something that is very suspicious, Mr. Wilson,” Paul -said. “You say that at the time you were at the hotel, but you or the -person that looks like you, walked out of the corner house, that is, -Harriman’s house, only about fifteen minutes before the grocery store -keeper himself came out. How do you figure that out?” - -“You have me puzzled, Paul, if that was the case. I can’t figure it -out.” - -The four of them leaned back in their seats and kept quiet. The -boys appeared exhausted from the ordeal. They thought that at last -everything would be cleared up and now they discovered that it still -remained a mystery. “At last,” muttered Jack, “we are back where we -started. Hooray!” Paul sighed and kept silent. Ken asked sadly, “Now -what are we going to do?” - -His companions shrugged their shoulders. Mr. Wilson remarked, “I wish -I knew how I could help you. But as a matter of fact, I am leaving on -the midnight express.” - -“That’s too bad,” said Paul. “I thought that perhaps you would stay -here for several days.” - -Mr. Wilson shook his head. “That is out of the question,” he answered. - -“To come back to the point,” said Jack, “what do you think we ought to -do, Paul?” - -“About what?” - -“The mystery of the white card, of course.” - -“I suppose we will just have to wait and see. Perhaps we will find some -clue one of these days which will solve it.” - -“If we wait until the mystery is solved by itself, we will never know -the solution,” was Ken’s statement. - -“Too bad I can’t help you,” said Mr. Wilson as he rose to go. - -They shook hands all around, the boys wishing Mr. Wilson a pleasant -trip and he wishing them success in unravelling the mystery of the -white card. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -AGAIN THE WHITE CARD - - -All of the following day the boys wandered about trying their best to -form some definite opinion about the mystery of the white card so that -they might act upon it. But however they discussed the situation, they -could come to no conclusion nor hit upon any new clue. In desperation, -they gave it up for the present and decided to let events take their -course; perhaps something might turn up in several days or weeks that -would give them a clue which they could follow with some chance of -clearing up the situation. - -Two days later, something did happen, but it only helped to complicate -things further. Paul was walking along Main Street when he heard an -automobile horn and he turned around to see who it was. A police car -pulled up to the curb and Walters waved to him. “Hey, there, fellow,” -he called. “Come on, get in.” - -Paul got into the car. “Hello, Walters,” he said, “anything up?” - -“Yes,” said the detective. “I have a very baffling case to solve and -when I saw you walking along, I thought I might ask you to help me.” -They both laughed and the detective added, “Are you bent on going any -place in particular?” - -“Well, I was going to the library. But I have plenty of time.” - -“That’s fine. Then you can drive along with me for a while. I hate to -drive all by myself with no one to talk to.” - -“I don’t mind,” said Paul. “Where are you driving to?” - -“That’s just it. No place in particular.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“Well,” said the detective, “we got a report about fifteen minutes ago -that a car was stolen.” He brought a slip of paper out of his pocket -and gave it to Paul. “Here,” he said, “look at it and then keep your -eyes open. We will begin at one end of the town and ride through street -by street. It may be that the owner parked it somewhere and forgot the -place.” - -Paul looked at the slip of paper. He read, “Ford ... four door sedan -... license number S 91 52.” - -For a while they rode along talking of various things. They rode down -one street and up the next street. Walters related some experiences of -his as a detective. Finally he remarked, “By the way, the oddest thing -happened to me yesterday. I was walking along and suddenly I noticed a -man that was the exact image of George Wilson, the government agent. I -was so astonished, I couldn’t imagine him being in town when two days -ago I saw him off on the train.” - -“Did you stop him?” demanded Paul excitedly. “Did you see where he -went?” - -The detective said, “Why, no. That’s just it. I closed my eyes for a -second because I thought they were deceiving me. When I opened them -again, he was gone.” - -“Now isn’t that the worst of luck,” said Paul. “He is just the man we -are looking for.” - -“What did he do?” asked Walters. “What do you want him for?” - -“We need him to clear up the mystery of the white card. We think he is -the missing link in the puzzle.” - -“That’s right,” remarked the detective. “I think I remember you telling -me something about this white card mystery. Did you do anything about -it?” - -“No. And that is why we are looking for this man.” - -“How do you mean?” - -“Well, our original clues led up to our following this man. But we got -him mixed up with the government agent and that is how we happened to -come upon the counterfeit gang. Well, sir, after all that was cleared -up, we questioned Mr. Wilson but he didn’t know anything about the -white card and then we knew we were up the wrong tree.” - -“In other words,” said the detective, “as far as I can figure it out, -you are back where you started and now you are looking for him again.” - -“That’s right.” - -“Well, I wish you luck. Maybe if you keep it up long enough, you will -come across another gang of crooks. But this time finish the job -yourself.” - -“I don’t think we will be able to do that,” returned Paul smiling. “You -see, Jack, Ken and I are leaving for college in two weeks.” - -“We will have to do something about that,” said the detective. “I will -tell the chief to move the police headquarters to the college or have -him move the college here. Which would you prefer?” - -“Neither one. When I get to college, I won’t have much time for -anything except study.” - -“What are you going to study?” - -“Jack and I are going to study to be doctors.” - -“Your father is a doctor, isn’t he?” - -“Yes.” - -“It’s a very respectable profession. I wish I had gone to college and -studied a profession.” - -“Aren’t you satisfied with being a detective?” - -“Oh, I’m satisfied all right but I guess it’s like the saying, that -when you’re one thing you always want to be something else.” - -They were crossing Main Street and Paul spied Ken walking along. -Hailing his friend, the detective pulled up to the curb and Ken got -into the car. “Where are you two going?” he asked. - -“Just going for a ride,” said the detective. “Want to come along?” - -“Sure, why not. I have nothing in particular to do right now. I was on -my way for a swim, but this is all right.” - -“Well, keep your eyes open for a Ford four door sedan, license number S -91 52. Walters is looking for it,” said Paul. - -“Stolen?” - -“No,” said the detective, “just removed by the wrong party.” - -“By the way,” spoke up Paul, “Walters here has come across the mystery -man of the white card, the man that looks like Mr. Wilson.” - -Ken leaned forward eagerly. “You mean it?” he cried. “Did you arrest -him, Walters?” - -“No. I didn’t want to bother,” the detective replied. - -“Didn’t want to bother!” - -“He is kidding you,” said Paul. “The man looks so much like Mr. Wilson -that he couldn’t believe his own eyes. Well, he closed them for a -second, and when he opened them again, the man was gone.” - -“Just like a detective!” cried Ken. - -“What do you mean?” asked Walters. - -“To close your eyes to things.” - -For several seconds there was silence, then Walters burst out laughing. -“That’s a good one,” he cried, “I’ll have to remember it.” - -“Well, what are we going to do now?” asked Ken. - -Paul shrugged his shoulders and didn’t answer. For a short while -they rode along in silence. Suddenly, both Ken and Paul cried -simultaneously, “Look!” - -About ten yards ahead of them was a Ford sedan with the license number -S 91 52 parked at the curb. Walters swung over to the curb and pulled -up directly behind the Ford car. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -MYSTERY SOLVED - - -The three of them jumped out of the car and approached the Ford. -Walters looked it over, checked the license number and said, “This is -it, all right.” - -Ken threw open the door next to the steering wheel. “Hey, Paul, -Walters,” he cried, “come here, quick.” - -He was joined by his friend and the detective. “Look,” he muttered and -pointed at the driver’s seat. - -They looked. There on the seat lay a white card. Walters grabbed it and -turned it over on both sides. It was a plain, white, blank card. “Can -you beat that!” gasped Walters. - -Paul took his own card out of his pocket and gave it to Walters. -“Here,” he said, “compare the two.” - -The detective made the comparison and announced, “Identical.” - -Ken burst out laughing. The detective asked angrily, “What are you -laughing at, you young pup?” - -“Now it’s your mystery,” answered the boy. “You look for him and the -next time you see him don’t close your eyes.” - -“Trying to be smart,” countered the detective, grinning. “Well, I’ll -have to start looking for him all right.” - -Walters searched the front and the rear of the car but he found nothing -suspicious. His investigation completed, he asked Ken to get into the -Ford and follow him. The detective drove back to police headquarters -where the stolen car was parked and the owner of it was notified. - -Ken and Paul walked out of the police headquarters in high spirits. -There was no particular reason for it but they thought it quite -humorous that Walters was now involved in the mystery of the white -card. And Ken didn’t seem to get tired of repeating, “From now on, -perhaps he will get out of the habit of closing his eyes.” - -And after he said it, he would laugh, assured that it was a very good -joke. Paul said, “Forget it for a while. Which way are you going?” - -“Which way are you going?” - -“Well, I was on the way to the library when Walters picked me up. So I -guess I will continue my trip to the library.” - -“That suits me,” said Ken, “I’ll go along.” - -Whistling, chatting, they walked along Main Street when Ken suddenly -saw something that made him quickly alert. - -Paul was eyeing a window display as he walked. He felt his arm pinched -and he uttered a muffled cry. “Hey!” - -Ken muttered, “Shsh! Look!” - -Across the street was the man who looked so much like Mr. Wilson! The -boys gasped. He was standing in the doorway of a three story apartment -house. The ground floor was occupied by a haberdashery on one side and -a shoe store on the other. The mystery man, with his wild, maniacal -appearance, glanced both ways, then he walked off, heading north. Paul -cried, “Come on. I’ll take care of him, Ken. You run into the hall of -the building and see what he may have been up to.” - -Ken rushed into the hall. He searched frantically and at last he found -under the stairs a bundle of rags evidently soaked in gasoline or -kerosene, in flames. The wall and the back of the stairs were already -beginning to smolder. By some luck, there happened to be a pail of -dirty water at the other end of the hall. He grabbed it and dashed -the water on the fire. The flames were out in a moment. With the rags -soaking wet, he wiped it across the smoldering wood. - -Holding on to the rags, he ran outside and looked at the number of the -building. At the curb he found a sheet of newspaper which he wrapped -around the wet rags. And to make sure he did not forget the address, he -wrote it down. - -In the meanwhile, Paul had approached the man and took him under the -arm. “Do you mind if I walk along with you?” he asked. - -“Oh, no, no. No, not at all.” - -“My name is Paul. What is yours?” - -“Who, me? I have no name.” - -“That’s too bad,” said Paul. “I thought everybody had a name.” - -“Everybody except I,” was the answer. - -Paul was at a loss what to do or say. On the spur of the moment, he -remarked, “There is a man who wants to see you. I will take you to him.” - -“That is very nice of you. Where is he?” - -“Straight ahead, down Main Street.” - -“That’s fine. Let’s hurry, because I don’t want to keep him waiting. I -don’t like to keep people waiting.” - -Just then Ken came running up and took the man by the other arm. -Together they led the man to police headquarters and into the -detectives’ room. Walters was there and as soon as he saw the boys and -the man, he jumped to his feet. “Where did you get him?” he cried. - -“He was looking for you,” said Ken, “so we thought we would bring him -here.” - -“Stop kidding, will you, and tell me what it’s all about?” demanded the -detective. - -The man stood there very innocently looking from one to the other. Ken -removed the covering of paper from the rags and showed it to Walters. -Paul said, “We saw him come out of the hall of a building....” - -“357 South Main Street is the correct address,” said Ken, interrupting. -“That bunch of rags was in flames and the wall and the stairs were -already beginning to smolder.” - -“And so we brought him here,” concluded Paul. - -The detective turned to the man. “What’s your name?” he demanded. - -The man shrugged his shoulders and opened his arms in a gesture of -complete ignorance. “Did you try to start a fire just before at 357 -South Main Street?” the detective again asked. - -But the man kept his mouth shut, grinned and would say nothing. The -detective was growing red in the face. Paul said, “You ought to have -him examined by a doctor.” - -“Where do you live?” asked Walters. - -But questioning him was futile and a waste of breath and effort. The -man either would not, could not, or just did not understand enough to -answer the simple questions. Walters searched him. In his right coat -pocket was found a bunch of white cards. Paul and the detective took -out their cards and compared them to the bunch. “Identical,” muttered -Walters. - -“Hooray!” cried Ken. “The white card mystery is solved.” - -The man grinned sheepishly. Walters continued searching him. In the -other pockets they found more white cards, various odds and ends such -as pieces of string, a pocket knife, several pencils, shoe strings and -an empty wallet with a name and address. Paul read, “Jerome Walsh, 321 -Applebury Street.” - -“Let’s run down there,” suggested Ken. - -The detective nodded. “Yes, we’ll do that. First I will have him -examined by a doctor.” - -Walters took the man by the arm and led him out. The boys waited and -two minutes later he returned. “What did you do with him?” asked Ken. - -“I gave him over to one of the men to take care of. Let’s go,” said -Walters. - -They went to the back of the building and got into a police car. Ken -plopped into the rear seat and began to laugh uproariously. “What’s the -joke?” asked the detective. - -“I don’t think you will appreciate it.” - -“Take a chance, let’s hear it.” - -“What I was laughing at,” said Ken, “is how much it helps when you keep -your eyes open.” - -“Aw, keep your mouth shut,” cried the detective, and the next moment he -was himself enjoying the humor of it. - -The car sped through the town and soon pulled up in front of 321 -Applebury Street. It was a boarding house. Walters rang the bell and a -middle aged woman answered the door. “Does a man by the name of Jerome -Walsh live here?” asked the detective. - -“Why, yes,” answered the woman hesitantly. “He isn’t in just now, -though.” - -Walters showed his badge and told her who he was. “That’s all right,” -he said. “Take us up to his room.” - -“Did he do anything wrong?” asked the woman. - -“We just want to search his room,” said Walters. - -“And he is such a harmless man,” mused the woman. - -They followed the woman to the second floor and she showed them into -a small, neatly kept room. The detective and the boys entered. On a -little table were several books. Paul examined them. “Look,” he cried, -“Professor Link’s book.” - -Ken grabbed the volume and looked at it. Inside was the professor’s -name. “So,” he mumbled, “the mystery at last is solved.” - -The detective searched the room and found many small items that had -been no doubt stolen from any number of places. Turning to the woman, -he asked, “What do you know about this man, Jerome Walsh?” - -“I don’t know anything about him,” she answered meekly. “He has been -boarding with me for almost a year. Once a month a man comes, I think -it is his brother, and pays for his room and board. Tell me, Mister -detective, did Mr. Walsh do anything wrong?” - -“Plenty,” was the answer. “Is there supposed to be something wrong with -him mentally?” - -“I don’t know,” the woman replied. “Every once in a while he acts -strangely, but as far as I know, he is harmless.” - -“What sort of strange things would he do?” asked Paul. - -“Well, he would sometimes talk to himself, sometimes he would go out -walking all night long—little things like that.” - -The detective said, “The next time this man, his brother or whoever -he is, comes to pay his room and board, I want you to call me. In the -meanwhile, Mr. Walsh is not coming back here any more.” - -“But what did he do?” the woman asked frantically. - -“He tried to set a house on fire and he stole an automobile this -morning,” the detective told her. - -“Which is not all,” added Paul. “Do you have the address of this man -who visits him?” - -“Why, yes, I think I do; I think I must have it somewhere downstairs.” - -“Let’s go down, then,” said Walters. - -Downstairs, the woman searched for about ten minutes until at last -she found the address and gave it to the detective. “Very good,” he -muttered. “We will send for him.” - -They left. Ken turned to Paul and said, “Let’s run over to Jack’s and -tell him. He’ll drop dead when he hears it.” - -“Yes,” said Paul, “let’s do that.” - -Walters dropped them off in front of the Stormways home. Paul waved and -called, “So long, Walters.” - -“So long.” - -“Keep your eyes open,” called Ken. - -The detective smiled. “And you watch yourself,” he called back and -drove off. - -The two boys ran into the house, looking for their friend. Mrs. -Stormways told them that he was at the garage and they ran out of the -house again. Jack waved to them, his hands grimy with grease; he was -working on his dad’s car. “Hey!” cried Ken, “the mystery has been -broken wide open.” - -“You mean....” - -Jack stared at his friends with his mouth open. He couldn’t believe it. -Paul smiled and said, “That’s right, the mystery is solved.” - -“And without me,” moaned Jack, “How could you finish up the whole thing -without me! Tell me all about it.” - -The boys related how it had all happened. Jack looked very miserable as -he listened to the story. His great regret was that he had not been in -on the exciting final clearing-up of the mystery. - -“It’s all right Jack, next week we’ll start college and we’ll forget -all about the Mr. Grey’s and white cards and counterfeiters. We’ll have -to put our minds on how to learn all of the hard subjects we’re going -to take.” Paul tried to be consoling. - -“Yes, Jack, and you can start solving a mystery as soon as we get -there. The mystery I mean is this—how are we going to work hard and -get good grades, and still play football, go to dances and have a good -time? Figuring that out will give you a good tough sleuthing job,” Ken -said. - -Jack was quite cheerful by now. - -“If we can have as good a time at college together as we have here in -Stanhope,” he said, “We will be lucky. But I’m rather tired of summer -and the town. I get a thrill every time I think of getting on the train -Monday.” - -“So do I,” Ken added. “We’ve had plenty of adventures since the troop -has been together, and we will have plenty more.” - -“Sure we will,” said Paul, “And I’m going home and help my mother pack -my clothes right now. If I don’t watch her she will only put in my best -clothes and leave out things like football sweaters and old pants.” - -And with that all three boys started eagerly for home. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Banner Boy Scouts Mystery, by George A. 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