u'll agree with me that
it is a good one. We'll hike to the home of the chap we towed home with
the broken arm the other day, and see if his granddaughter can give us a
tip of any sort as to what sort of a place the restaurant is and what
sort of a chap runs it and who hangs out there. Of course there is one
great chance that Phil stumbled onto a real clue and followed it, but
that is very remote, for I don't believe Phil would disobey an order
that had been agreed upon by all as a safety measure."

"Jolly good idea, Garry," said Dick. "Let's go."

In a few moments they were at Mr. Everett's house, and were glad to find
a light still burning there. They knocked on the door, and Ruth herself
answered the knock.

"Goodness gracious," she exclaimed, in a surprised tone. "I never
expected to see you boys at this time of night. Where's your other
companion?"

"That's just what we would give anything in the world to know right
now," remarked Garry. "We've come to you to see if you can give us a bit
of help or information."

Then rapidly he told of the plans they had made to try and get evidence,
and the agreement that Phil was to have returned at sundown that night.

"You say he went to the restaurant? Oh, that's a wicked place, and if
he's gotten into trouble, that place is just where it would have been
likely to happen. The owner of that place is dreadful. He helps those
smugglers and sells contraband rum, and he and that half-breed LeBlanc
have been suspected of several crimes along the border."

"What's that you say?" burst out Garry. "LeBlanc, you don't mean Jean
LeBlanc?"

"Why, yes, do you know him or know of him?" returned the girl, amazed at
Garry's sudden outburst.

"Yes, to our sorrow we do. I haven't time to tell you all we know of him
now, except that he hates us like poison, since we were instrumental in
having him jailed for kidnapping once, and then he broke out. Is that
diabolic villain in town?"

"He is, I saw him only this afternoon. He used to be around here a great
deal, for his original home is in a town not far on the other side of
the border. I am so sorry to say it, but if your chum was in the
restaurant and LeBlanc saw him there, he could have made him prisoner
with the greatest of ease, for he has many friends there, and there are
many who would do anything that rascally proprietor told them to."

"Does your grandfather know the ins and outs of that house?" inquired
Garry.

"Yes, he