Page:Ned Wilding's Disappearance.djvu/118

108 "By the orders of the United States postal authorities," was the answer. "A fraud order has been issued against Skem & Skim, and there is a warrant for their arrest on a charge of using the mails to swindle. They skipped out just before we got here this morning."

"Can't we get our money?" inquired half a dozen anxious ones.

"I'm afraid not," was the reply from a small but determined looking man who stood before the door. "My assistant and I have charge of the offices. As soon as we can learn anything definite we will let you know."

"Did they both get away?' asked some one of the postoffice inspector, for such the man in charge was.

"Yes, both Skem and Skim."

"Their names ought to be Scheme and Skin," said a man in a corner. "They skinned me out of three hundred dollars."

"Any chance of getting 'em?" was the next inquiry of the inspector.

"We hope so. We are also looking for a young fellow who is supposed to hold two hundred shares of this wild-cat oil stock in the Mt. Olive well. As far as we can learn he is the only stockholder outside of Skem & Skim, and of course he's