Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
Then he returned to

I feat, without discovery. Then he returned to
his bunk.
1t, was long before he fell asleep, and he
was only awakened at last by the stir made
by his hosts, attendant upon the preparation
of breakfast.
As soon thereafter as he could compass the
undertaking, as he thought, without being
noticed, Lofty drew Even aside and, having
led him out of the shanty, told him what he
had learned during the night.
Even was not famous among his fellows for
his depth of insight. He listened to the recit-
al >of his leader, without seeming to arrre-
hend or appreciate the force of Lofty's dis
covery.
These fellows have evidently got some
the better. They will be SO busy that they
won't nave time to pry into our affairs"
Lofty was not so certain about that.
II believe they have been prying into our
affairs already" was his declaration. 'W hat
do you suppose they made special note of the
Ventures anchorage for.
"What do you suppose they made special
note of the location of the savings bank for!'
returned EVEN. "We don't know, and we
don't care, do we? Our plans have nothing
"Well, Ricketts, has, and it's as plain to be
seen as the chimney on the shanty there that
in Ricketts, mind there is some connection be-
tween the bank and the school boat
when you find out what the bank has to
his eye on the Venture for"
I Lofty saw that nothing was to be gained by
relying on Even for ideas. He accordingly
went on with his investigation.
He had several times noticed a leather
satchel, apparently well filed, which Ricketts,
kept under the bunk. When he went back
into the shanty, Lofty contrived to pass near
enough to the bunk to swing his foot and deal
applied his foot, he barely moved the satchsl:
The impact also produced clinking sound
from the interior of the satchel that could
only proceed from one cause.-The presence OF
| metals< therein. Ricketts, satchel was filed
with tools of some sort
All at once the truth of the matter flashed
upon Lofty. He knew now the significance
of the map-or at least of that portion OF it
which had to do with the savings bank.
Ricketts, and his gang were burglars, ani
they were contemplating raid on the bank
| at Petoskey.
| What to do in the light of his discovery
fided his belief. could offer no suggestion.
''It all depends" Even said. with placid
ity that was a marvel to his leader-'it all
depends on when Ricketts, is calculating upon
his plans IN Sow If
turns with the rest of our fellows, he may IN
volye US in trouble"
"Mayp repeated Lofty. "He certainly will
within two hours after the robbery is dis
covered. Besides, don't like the idea oi
being housed, even for day or two, with
gang of burglars
"No more do l." was the easy response
"But what are you going to do about it?"
| To this Lofty could make no answer. Ht
knew that his duty was to warn the author
tiles of the law of what he suspected and be
| lieved.
But was he not himself fugitive? To ap
pear in the village. at this juncture was to in.
sure the failure of his plan to seize the Ven.
ture Lofty was not equal to the sacrifice
There is only one ,thing to do" Even
weather eye Open All that we know about
Ricketts, is only guesswork, anyhow, and II
wouldn't pay us to make any sacrifices under
the circumstances"
Lofty was only, too glad to accept this ex
cuse. Still, he had his misgivings. If he
had pursued his reasonings to their legitimate
conclusion he would have suspected, if not
foreseen, good deal Of what was shortly to
occur.
In the meantime. however, events were hap
pening elsewhere that were destined to bring
the affairs both of Ricketts, and of the run,
aways to a climax.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY