Part 35 (2/2)

So the one called Brad took something out of his coat pocket that made a peculiar jingling noise, and held it up before the boy.

”D'ye see them, son? We call 'em bracelets, and they're meant to go on the wrists of criminals. D'ye understand now? We're officers of the law, and we've just made a grand haul. But some of the evidence has slipped away from us. It's in that same bag you picked up on this here road.

Now, don't you dare deny it again, or we'll take you into town with these pretty toys clasped on your wrists. I'm going to give you another chance to tell us, son. Where did you put that bag?”

Ted winced and whined. He showed all the signs of injured innocence.

Surely he must have made up his mind quickly that the contents of the bag were well worth taking all sorts of chances for.

”Ain't seen no bag. Sure I'd be on'y too glad to tell you, mister, if I had. All I wants to do is to go home. I'm tired, an' nigh sick with all this huntin' for that kid,” he whimpered.

The man suddenly pounced on him, and despite Ted's struggles and entreaties, he seemed to succeed in accomplis.h.i.+ng his purpose. At any rate the concealed scouts heard a snap; and when Ted reeled back he was holding his two hands close together in a suspicious way, and staring at something that seemed to be in the nature of a connecting link.

”Now you are in for it,” said the tall man, shaking his head threateningly as he stood over the prisoner; ”we'll have to take you to town, and put you in the lockup as an accessory after the fact. D'ye hear that, you young fool? And all because you refuse to help honest officers of the law in their legitimate business. Why, you may get ten years at hard labor, yes, twenty. Better tell all you know, and perhaps we'll let you off.”

”You can do anything you like to me, mister, but I ain't agoin' to say what I don't know. Ain't seen any bag of no kind. Cross my heart if I have. I'm willin' to help you hunt for it, even if I am dog tired. Don't you believe me, mister? Sure, I wouldn't lie to you. What would I be wantin' with a bag; we got plenty at my house. Ted Slavin's my name, and I live in Stanhope. Gimme a ride, mister, if you're goin' that way, won't you?”

Again the two men talked together, while Ted watched them out of the corner of his eye. He might even have tried to run but the fact that his hands were fastened together with that steel chain prevented such a thing.

Once more they turned upon him, and the tall man pointing down, thundered:

”You've been kneeling in the dirt!”

Ted glanced down at his trousers involuntarily; but even then he was not taken off his guard.

”I fell ever so many times after my lantern went out. See here, mister, how I sc.r.a.ped the skin off my hand. That's the honest truth I'm givin'

you!” he cried.

Undoubtedly it was, but all the same the men showed no signs of yielding.

The taller one, called Brad by his companion, deliberately detached one of the lamps from the car. With this he bent down to examine the road.

”He'll see the marks of the bag!” whispered Bobolink to Paul.

”Watch him while I scurry along the road a bit, to see if he left it,”

was what the man said, and then moved down toward the spot where the five boys lay in hiding.

When he came opposite them they hardly dared to breathe, lest his keen ears catch the sound, and he pounce upon them.

But he went past, scouring the road closely, and looking for some sign of the missing bag. They saw him pa.s.s on, and the light grew dim. Meanwhile Ted sat down on a log, and seemed to be very dejected and forlorn. Once or twice when the shorter man was not looking Paul saw him glance around, as though sizing up the chances for a sudden plunge into the forest.

”He's coming again,” said Bobolink; and the brilliant glow from down the road bore evidence of the truth of this remark which was whispered in Paul's ear.

Brad walked hastily back, and soon rejoined his companion, with whom he talked earnestly for a minute.

”Get up!” he said, turning to Ted, and giving the boy a kick that made him climb to his feet hurriedly, groaning with pain.

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