Page:Fairview Boys and their Rivals.djvu/114

110 "Listen," ordered Bob.

The man they had followed replied to the last whistle. Then the boys saw another man come from some shrubbery just beyond the schoolhouse wall.

"Oh, my!" gasped Bob.

"What is it?" whispered Frank.

"Don't you see?"

"What?"

"The last man! He's carrying two satchels!"

"Why, then," said Sammy, "they've got the stolen jewelry in them!"

"S-sh!" warned Bob.

He was terribly excited. Not for an instant did he doubt that the satchels held the plunder of which the robbers had rifled Mr, Haven's jewelry store. Bob thought it out this way: These two men were the thieves. They had not risked carrying their plunder away from Fairview, knowing they would be pursued, but had hidden it. Then they had gone into hiding themselves. The tramp whom Bob knew had found shelter in Silas Dolby's barn. The other man had found safety in some other spot.

"Now, then," spoke Bob, quickly, "you, Sammy."

"Yes?" replied Sammy, on pins and needles of excitement.

"Run as fast as you can to town, and tell the marshal that the jewelry store robbers are down here near the schoolhouse."

"You bet I'll run!" said Sammy. "But will they be here when we get back?"

"Probably not, but they won't be far away."

"What are you going to do?"

"I will keep them in sight, and Frank will help me."

"Oh, I hope we catch them!" said Sammy.

"Don't delay."

"I won't."