Page:Fairview Boys and their Rivals.djvu/129

Rh He and his friends ran after the fellow. The rascal's way was blocked, and he was caught and held by two men who had heard Bob's cries.

"Aha! I who are you?" demanded one of the captors.

"I'm only a poor tramp. Went into the schoolhouse to get warm."

"He's one of the men who robbed Mr. Haven's jewelry store," declared Bob, excitedly.

"Is that so!" exclaimed the man's captor.

"Yes, it is."

"Bob, here comes the marshal," spoke Frank just then.

"And the hose-cart," added Sammy.

Bob ran to meet the marshal. He told much that made the officer very anxious to take the man with the green shade over one eye in charge. The hose-cart men soon attacked the fire, which had been caused by some hot coals falling on the floor from the big stove in the schoolroom. Soon the blaze was put out.

"You stay with me, Bob," said the marshal, keeping tight hold of his prisoner. "I want to question this fellow. You seem to know more about him than any one else."

The marshal led the man to the nearest house. Its owner took them into a sitting-room.

"Now, then, Bob," said the marshal, "you are, sure this is the man you saw with two satchels the night you told me about?"

"Yes, sir, I am," replied Bob.

"My man," asked the marshal, "what did you do with those satchels?"

"I'm not going to get myself into trouble by telling," replied the robber, sullenly.

"You're in pretty bad trouble already, if you only knew it," said the marshal.