Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22

they learned that not only was
,Jethro Chuck not on the boat, but that he
had not occupied his berth that night. The
bed clothing had not even been disturbed
There was not a doubt in the mind OF
either boy but that their cook was villain
who had robbed them during the night, and
with this thought came the question OF what
had he taken.
Jimmie rushed into his room, followed by
both the others; but in an instant after he
had erept under the berth. towards the place
where it had been decided that the money
box should be kept, he shouted:
TITS all right! The money is herel"
There was the broken window. however, to
show that some one had accidentally broken
it in trying to raise it, or had done so pur-
posely, trusting that the sleepers would not
be awakened.
Light one of the lanterns" said True,
I'VE must find out what has been taken, and
see if we can't do something towards catch
ing the thief"
While Jim obeyed. Bent got out his gun,
and stood ready to guard the searching party.
With the lighted lantern, Jim led the way
into the store, and, as soon as glimpse was
gained of the interior, an exclamation of sur
prise burst from every one.
There, on the floor. the counter, and near
the door, were packages of goods tied up
ready to be carried away.
hurried examination, however failed to
show that anything was missing, although
the store door, which Jim had 80 carefully
locked before he retired. was wide open.
"I don't understand this" said Jimmie. in
perplexty 1t seems as if everything was
here, and yet there is no question but that
there are robbers around"
There could have been but one. and his
name is Jethro Chuck" replied True. decid-
edly. While we were asleep he tied up all
these packages ready to carry them on shore;
hn dQd hot h L
money as well, so he went out on the bank to
open the window, for he knew the door was
licked, and accidentally broke the glass. |
shouted, and he ran away Now, let's see if
we can hnd some track of our late cook"
jim led the way with the lantern and
carefully examined every inch of the pronnd
in front of him.
There was no trouble about finding tracks.
for the wet bank appeared to be covered with
them; but what seemed very STRANGE was
that it must have been impossible for one
man to have made them all.
There have been three or four here" an
nouneed JIM at last, 'for here are the prints
of two boot heels that are entirely different" !"
Don't you remember that Jethro Chuck was
the one who proposed that we stop here for
the night, and that he picked out the placer"
Eyes, yes" replied Jim and Bent, in CON
cert.
''Well, he must have made up the plan to
rob us before we left Cincinnati, and he had
some of his friends to come here and wait
for us. Now let's look over by the sitting
room"
One glance at the bank in that direction
was sufficient to show that the glass had been
broken accidentally, for in the mud could be
seen where some one standing near the boat
had slipped, probably while trying to open
the window.
AS the boys examined the place more thor
oughIy, they could see even the path by
which the men had come to the boat and
that by which they had fled.
There was no longer any doubt but that
Jethro Chuck had laid his plans some time
before to rob the boat at this particular
place.
at isn't any use for us to stand here any
longer" suggested True. 1--WE know the