Page:Fairview Boys and their Rivals.djvu/110

106 through gaping breaks in the rotted boards. The miser had set down the lantern. There was no hay in the loft, except a little heap in one corner. Upon this was spread a blanket.

"Some one has been sleeping in the loft," Bob decided. "He's gone now, though."

Silas Dolby took up the blanket and folded it. Then he took some dishes, a cup, plate, knife and fork from an old chair. These he placed on top of the folded blanket. He held blanket, dishes and lantern on one arm. Then he came down the ladder. In a few minutes the miser went back into the house.

"Well, that's all plain," said Bob to himself. "Some one has been sleeping and hiding in the barn. Who could it be but that tramp? Then, if he robbed the jewelry store, where did he put the stuff he stole?"

Bob went back to Frank and Sammy. He had about made up his mind to go straight to Mr. Haven, and tell him all he had found out. It was Bob's idea that Frank's father and the marshal could scare the old miser into telling enough about the tramp to lead to his arrest.

"Why, hello, where are they?" exclaimed Bob, as he reached the tree where he had left Frank and Sammy.

They were nowhere to be seen. As Bob looked around, somewhat puzzled, a sound came from some near bushes.

"Hist!"

Bob strained his eyes and made out Frank near the bushes. He beckoned to Bob.

"What is it?" asked Bob. "What are you hiding for?"

"Some one crossed over from behind the barn."

"Who was it?"

"A stranger, so Sammy has cut through the brush lot here to keep him in sight."

"Which way?"