Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/120

106, that's all, and I'll see that you don't lose anything by it."

"All right then, if that's the way you're goin' to put it," answered Applejack Joe resignedly. "But I hope you'll see to it that I gits something to eat an' a warm place to sleep."

"I'll remember," returned our hero.

There seemed nothing now to do but to return to the jewelry works and this Dave did, taking the tramp and the officer with him. When they arrived they found the chief of police there, with two officers. The chief was questioning Mr. Wadsworth and the distracted manufacturer was telling what he knew about the crime that had been committed.

The arrival of those from the depot, and what the tramp had to tell, put a new face on the matter. One of the officers said he had seen the two strangers with the tool-bag, but had put them down for traveling salesmen visiting Crumville on business.

"They are undoubtedly the guilty parties," said the chief. "The only question is: Where did they go to?"

"Well, they didn't take that twelve-fifteen train," answered Dave.

"Then they either got out of town by the use of a horse or an auto, or else they are here yet," said Mr. Wadsworth. "Oh, catch them! Catch