Evening star., 1935-06-09

around here as long as can remem-
Der. Sort of simple minded, but
good hearted fellow. Why"
Ronnie nodded. L Just wondered.
he said thoughtfully. He had
funny expression on his face when
Hlcky lit the little fire to mend that
tube I thought he might possibly be
the flrebug"
oh. Charles all right" said Herb
confidently. Everybody here at the
lake knows him, and I'm sure he's
harmless"
When they got back to the cottage.
they found that Mr.. Mills had gone
over to see Mai. Webb. When he
returned, he announced that the
major had notified the nearest sub
station of the State police regarding
the fire of the night before. The
police were sending man to investi-
gate.
Mr.. Mills returned To town that
evening, and the next morning the
police officer arrived. He came over
to question Ronnie, and also talked
to the ma Tor But he learned moth
Ing Of value, and finally departed.
apparently convinced that the fires
were entirely accidental.
HOWEVER, a couple of days later
L Ronnie got a letter from his
mother, and one part of 1t caused him
to whistle with surprise. 1t read:
Something funny happened yester-
DAY, and for while l wondered what
mischief you and Hicky had been up
to Chief of Police Collins called your
father and said the State police had
been in touch with him, asking for
information about Ronnie Duncan. OF
course, Chief Collins told them about
the work you and Hicky had done for
him, and they were satisfied.
But it worried me, so l called up
Chief Collins and he said the State
police were trying to catch an incen-
diary. Because you were the one
who discovered the second fire at
Coon Lake they wanted to check up
on YOU. I wish you'd write and tell
me all about it,
Ronnie read the passage to Hicky,
Herb and Emily
"Hah" said Herb. so you're the
villain. are you?"
Emily uttered an exclamation of
derision. Smart people, those State
police" she said. II suppose they
think Ronnie goes around setting fires,
lust so he can burn his hands putting
them out
We'll. don't blame them for check
Ing up on everybody" said Ronnie.
afE vr-I0 cyi-
IDENTIFY thought there was more to the
firebug business than he admitted"
SECRETLY. Ronnie was glad that
~ Chief Collins had been able to
vouch for him. The fact that he had
been on hand when the fire started
might make the finger of suspicion
point in his direction. And the police
might have believed that he made up
the story of seeing man running
away from the burning cottage.
But they thought little more OF the
fires that day. for they took the Mills
sailboat out on the lake and did not
return until dusk. BY that time a
chilly wind had come up and after
Mrs. Mills had given them dinner.
they all gathered around the fireplace
In the cottage living room.
Herb built big fire and they sat
before 1t, too tired from the days
sailing to do anything more than talk
idly. They had already decided to
20 to bed early, and were almost ready
to start upstairs when Emily uttered
q sudden cry of fright.
She was facing a side window OF
the cottage, and Ronnie quickly fol-
lowed her staring eyes toward the
panes For a fraction Of second
he caught glimpse of mad. dis
torted face. and he leaped to his feet
as Emily cried out again.
Somebody at the window" he ex-
claimed. making dash for the door.
Herb and Hicky were after him imme-
diately. They rushed outside and
circled the cottage, but found Moth
ing. Then they gathered in group
beside the front door. Ronnie ex-
planned what he had seen, and Emily
added vivid description of the face.
Il think it was the firebug." Emily
e.id tensely. II couldn't see him