Part 5 (1/2)
”They could have hidden them, intending to come back after dark and get them,” replied Bob. ”I'm going to question them anyway. Buck Looker isn't going to put anything like that over on us.”
”They'll only lie out of it,” prophesied Jimmy pessimistically.
”We can see from the way they talk and act whether they are lying or not,” returned Bob. ”At any rate I'm going to take a chance.”
They all went back rapidly toward the house, and reached there just in time to see Buck and his cronies vanis.h.i.+ng around the back.
”They've seen us coming and tried to dodge,” cried Joe.
”That won't do them any good,” replied Bob, quickening his speed. ”We can beat them running any day.”
The truth of his words was quickly demonstrated when they drew up abreast of the three, who slowed to a walk when they saw it was no use trying to evade their pursuers.
”What are you running away for?” queried Bob, as he stepped in front of Buck.
”None of your business,” answered Buck snapishly. ”I might ask you what you are running for.”
”And if you did, I'd tell you mighty quick,” answered Bob. ”I was running after you to ask you what you did with the bags of nuts you found under the trees.”
Buck tried to put on a look of surprise, but the attempt was a failure.
”I--I don't know what you're talking about,” he stammered.
Every tone and every look betrayed that he was not telling the truth, and Bob went straight to the point.
”Yes, you do,” he retorted. ”You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. You found those bags under the trees where we had dropped them when the bear chased us, and you've hidden them somewhere intending to come back for them later. We've got you dead to rights, and you'd better come across and come across quick.”
Buck hesitated a moment, but the look in Bob's eyes told him what was in store for him if he refused, and again he concluded that discretion was the better part of valor.
”Oh, were those yours?” he said, with an affectation of surprise. ”We did find a few nuts and laid them aside for the owners if they should come back for them. I had forgotten all about it.”
”It's too bad that your memory is so poor,” remarked Bob grimly.
”Suppose you come along and show us where you laid them aside so carefully for their owners.”
Again Buck hesitated and seemed inclined to refuse, but the menace in Bob's eyes had not lessened, and he reluctantly shuffled back to the woods in front of the house and pointed out a hollow tree.
”There you'll find your old nuts,” he snarled viciously. ”That is, if they are yours. Ten to one they belong to somebody else.” And with this Parthian shot, which the boys disregarded in their eagerness to regain their property, he slunk away, followed by Lutz and Mooney, the discomfited faces of the three of them as black as thunder clouds.
CHAPTER V
A STARTLING ACCUSATION
Elated and triumphant, the radio boys shouldered their bags and set out for home.
”This is the end of a perfect day,” chanted Joe, as they trudged along, tired in body but light in heart.
”For us perhaps, but not for Buck and his crowd,” chuckled Herb.
”And those sneak thieves were the fellows who were talking about burglars,” laughed Jimmy.