Part 26 (1/2)
”This is one on us,” reine around ”I'd like to wallop Chester”
”So would I,” declared Bert ”Mr Muchuess”
”Muchmore needs someone to attend to him, too,” remarked Tom Donnell
”He's as cross as a couple of sour apple trees I guess if the house had been on fire he'd have been only too glad to see us”
Still the boys did not so much mind their useless run, as they were so enthusiastic over their engine and the new department that it had not yet become an old story to them
”We were in need of a little practice, anyhow,” reine into the barn The second apparatus had not responded, though the boys were in readiness to run it out in case a call caht Herbert was racking his brains over the mystery that see queer going on within its walls he was positive What he had seen, Much discovered, and what Mort Decker had told hi place in the silent house on the hill
”Mr Stockton ought to be informed,” he said ”I wonder if I couldn't send a letter to hiood notion to make some inquiries at the post-office”
He did, the next day As he entered the post-office he saw that Mr
Daven was busy reading soreeted, for he had a kindly feeling for the lad, who, in aof the town ”How's the fire business?”
”Pretty good We had a run for nothing last night”
”I heard about that Up to the Stockton mansion Yes, I may have to take official action on it”
”How's that?”
”Why, Mr Mucho He came to see me in my official capacity as justice of the peace, and not postmaster He wanted a warrant for the arrest of Chester Randel, and I ood-for-nothing lad, but he's like a flea, I never can catch hiot another warrant for him too”
”What's that for?”
”Oh, he robbed Deacon Stanton's apple orchard Not that taking apples is such a crime, but the deacon insisted on a warrant, and I had toto arrest Chester?”
”If I can catch hiotout souvenir postals, with pictures of the new engines on 'em, and it takes a lot of ti stationer in town had ordered a supply of postals made, with pictures of the new fire apparatus, and he sold quite a nuood opening to ask certain questions
”I wonder if Mr Stockton knows about our new department?” he said
”I'd like to send hih I don't really know him very well Still, I think he would be interested Do you know his address?”
”No, Bert, I don't”
”I heard he had gone to Europe”
”Maybe he has, but I can't say”
”Do you get any letters for him?”