Part 35 (2/2)
”What are your duties?” Bart went on.
”Oh I just sit here to watch that this stake don't move, and if I see any one coming I'm to pull this string.”
”Have you pulled it?”
”Not yet, ain't seen any one.”
”What do you call me?”
”That's so. I almost forgot. Say, pull it, will you; you're nearer to it than I am.”
The string was about two inches from Jim's hand, and within one inch of Bart's foot.
”What happens if I pull it?”
”Don't know. That ain't part of my job,” and Jim blinked his eyes lazily.
”Then I guess I'll not pull it,” replied Bart, putting his foot on the cord to prevent Jim from doing it.
”All right, maybe I'll lose my job now, but I don't care. There's too much work. Have to stay awake too much.”
Bart turned and beckoned to his companions who had remained in the woods. They came on in a hurry.
”You're not supposed to come here,” Jim objected in a lazy tone. ”I ought to pull that string. Pull it, Bart, you're closer than I am.”
”Forward!” exclaimed the chief. ”We'll see where this cord leads!”
He started to trace the white string that stretched along the ground and into the woods beyond the clearing. The boys followed, and the party broke into a run. Bart carried the end of the cord with him to prevent Jim from pulling it, but he need not have taken the trouble as Jim had gone to sleep.
Just as the posse was at the further edge of the clearing there emerged from the woods four men. One was the white-bearded individual, whose strange language and actions had first aroused the boys' suspicions, one the tramp, whom the chums had encountered three times; the third was the man who had taken Sandy's gun that day, while at the sight of the fourth Frank exclaimed: ”The King of Paprica!”
The men stopped abruptly on seeing the boys and their companions. There was a moment's silence and then a noise sounded off to the left. They all turned to behold Captain Needham approaching on the run.
”The boys got away!” he cried, addressing the King of Paprica.
CHAPTER x.x.x
STRIKING OIL--CONCLUSION
”You're right! They did!” exclaimed the chief of police. ”They got away from you, and they're here now to prefer charges against you and the other scoundrels. I place you all under arrest,” and he drew his revolver, the officer doing likewise.
”There's no necessity for that,” said the man who had called himself the King of Paprica. ”We're not going to make any trouble.”
”You'd better not,” said the chief significantly.
”I can explain it all now,” the man went on.
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