Part 25 (2/2)
”You certainly did,” said Jack ”Lucky we brought along a day's rations We didn't kno long we ot out their supplies from their knapsacks and spread theot here” Whereupon Pepper related the story of his adventures
”My goodness!” exclaimed Tom, when the story was finished, ”I don't believe it is safe for you to be out alone What do you say, boys, don't you think we ought to see hietting dark now,” continued To what he will find on the road”
So, in spite of Pepper's protests that he was all right and that once put upon the right road he could take care of hi him to the outskirts of Creston, which they reached without further misadventure
”Do you think you will be safe now?” asked Tom as they were about to leave hih; ”why, I aht,” they called, and with three cheers for Pepper, the hpoint boys turned about and went on their way ho the e, Pepper hurried on home He was almost there when he was accosted by a schoolmate and was told that his brother Jack and others had been seen going into Judge Taylor's office It was but a step farther, so thither he directed his course
CHAPTER XVIII
IN THE JUDGE'S OFFICE
Colonel Snow and the greatly excited boys accoe's office
”Good evening, Colonel; good evening, boys,” said the judge, greeting them pleasantly when they calad to see you Is this an official visit?”
”Good evening, Judge,” replied Rand ”I suppose it must be The officer said I was under arrest”
”Gracious, no! Not at all,” said the judge ”That was a blunder, indeed I merely told him I wanted to see you I wanted to see if you could throw any light on the robbing of my office”
”Have you any reason to think that they know anything about it?”
denantly
”No sufficient reason,” replied the judge ”Now, don't get excited,”
as the colonel was about to speak, ”but there has been a lot of loose talk circulating, and I thought I would like to settle it”
”Loose talk!” exclaimed the colonel; ”about who Blake,” explained the judge; ”and, by the here is Pepper? I don't see him here”
”We don't knohere he is,” replied Jack ”We have been hunting for him all the afternoon, but we couldn't find hie