a look of disgusted
amazement.

"What d'ye think of that, hey, Mortlake?" he snapped out. "What d'ye think
of that? Fine young girls, eh? Nice products of the twentieth century,
hey?"

"Oh, let's get on and see if we can't find that roll of papers somewhere
along here," rejoined Mortlake impatiently. "I don't think it's likely
they could have seen it. It must have fallen from my pocket where the car
broke down and I got out."

"Hey? Oh, yes, yes. That's it. Drive on, Tom. Drive us to where the car
broke down."

In a few seconds they reached the spot just in time to see the two tramps
who had molested the girls making off.

"There they go!" shouted Mortlake, "those fellows must have found them. I
wouldn't lose those sketches for a thousand dollars. Put on more speed,
Tom, and overtake them."

The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs
it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the
meantime.

"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it
ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago."

"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging
himself out of the car, "give them to me or----"

"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had
received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its
effects.

"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously,
although he knew very well.

"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them."

"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp.

"Naw!" echoed the other.

"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you."

The warning came from old Mr. Harding.

"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like."

The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to
be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the
tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his
distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan.

This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign. One winked to the
other, and the red-eyed one spoke.

"Wots it worth if we tell yer where them papers are, guv'ners both?"

"What, you know!" cried Mortlake, while old Mr. Harding spluttered:

"Eh, eh? Hey, what's all this? What's all this?"

"I didn't say we knew," was the cunning reply. "I said what's it worth if
we did