Part 28 (1/2)

”How did you get the orders to capture them?” asked Mr. Gilroy.

”Why, the Police Chiefs all over the country were sent secret communications with descriptions and photographs of the fellows; just the other day, a young man who lives with his granny on this mountain, said he had seen two evil-looking tramps somewhat resembling the pictures. So we quickly planned to start a round-up when we heard from you. Then last night I got a message over the wire that two suspects were trailed as far as Junction or its vicinity, and we were to look carefully to see if any disguised strangers were hanging about our town.”

”Well, well! This is certainly interesting, but now I am more determined than ever to go with you when you start. Are we waiting for anything?”

said Mr. Gilroy.

”Nothing except the consent of your nurses,” laughed the Chief.

The four girls looked obdurate, and Mr. Gilroy began to smile, then he turned to the Chief.

”You feel reasonably sure that I will be taking no risks in accompanying you back to the campsite?”

”Oh, certainly! Those two outlaws will never hang about a spot where so many people are liable to stop.”

”Well, then, is there any objection to my four nurses going with me to see that I keep quiet to-day?”

”Oh, Mr. Gilroy! How splendid that will be!” cried Julie,

”Oh, yes! Do let us go, Chief!” exclaimed Joan, eagerly.

But at this moment Mrs. Vernon came out on the piazza. She overheard the last words and instantly shook her head in disapproval.

”But why not, Verny? The Chief says the ground is perfectly safe about our camp!” pleaded Julie.

”Why, not a mother in the land would ever allow her girls to join the Scout Organization if they thought I was a sample of a Captain--the very idea! to let you girls run right into such a hotbed of danger!” Mrs.

Vernon glanced scornfully at Mr. Gilroy as if to dare him to say another word.

But he smiled in return and said: ”Just step inside for a moment, Mrs.

Vernon,--I have a word to speak to you.”

Wonderingly, the Captain followed him indoors, and whatever he whispered must have had a wonderful power, for a radical change took place in Mrs.

Vernon's opinions before she joined the girls again.

”Mr. Gilroy has convinced me that it is to our _advantage_ to go back to the huts, but still I refuse to go unless the Chief can a.s.sure me that we will not be anywhere near those outlaws, or run any risk by returning to camp,” said she.

”As far as that is concerned, I told Mr. Gilroy that the two rascals were too experienced to stay near the camp, but were most likely over the mountain by this time, making tracks for some out-of-the-way place where they could hide again for a few days.”

”Maybe they will go back to Bluebeard's Cave, now that they got our food and other necessities,” suggested Joan.

”I only hope they do,” laughed the Chief. ”For in that case we will smoke them out with sulphur.”

After many misgivings as to the wisdom of this trip, and fearing the condemnation of all the parents of the girls, as well as the disapproval of the Girl Scouts Organization should they ever hear of the escapade, Mrs. Vernon followed her charges to the car.

By the time the police and the scout party arrived at the campsite, the village posse were far past that spot and were beating the woods up on the mountainside. The Chief went carefully over every visible sign of the destruction in the camp, but shook his head smilingly after he had concluded his investigation.

”I don't believe the rascals stole the furniture, you know, Mr. Gilroy, as it would hamper them too much in their get-away and it would be of no earthly value to any one but these scouts. Neither do I believe that they carried off much food. Only enough to last them for the present.