ever have given us the
reward."

The entire matter was very puzzling to the boys, when Nate, who was
always on the job, broke in with a suggestion. "Why don't you fellows
telephone down to 'Moose Boone' and ask him if the tramps got away."

"I don't think he would know anything about it," said Garry, "for I was
talking with him on the 'phone, when we were in Augusta, and he didn't
make any mention of it."

Then Dick came to bat with a suggestion. "Why don't we telephone to Sam
Preston, the newspaper man, surely he would know if anybody would." The
call was immediately put in, and while they were waiting for an answer,
they made use of the opportunity, and asked Nate how it was he happened
to be there. "Why, I simply got a long distance call from the Chief
Ranger, asking me to meet you boys here, to give you whatever
suggestions I could as to the place you are going, and also to see if I
could remember the names of two or three of my friends in that part of
the country who might be of some help when you need it."

"Why, of course, Garry," remarked Dick, "you remember the Chief of
Customs telling us he would arrange to have Nate meet us here? However,
perhaps we had better defer getting any advice from Nate until Phil has
told his story."

That moment the telephone rang, and on answering it, Garry found that
the person on the other end of the wire was Sam Preston. After chatting
a moment with Sam, he asked if there was any news of the three burglars
whom they had caught early in the summer. There was silence for several
moments in the room, while Sam talked, and then with a goodbye, Garry
replaced the receiver on the hook, and turned around to face his
companions.

"Well, Dick, you sure hit the matter about right. The three burglars
were brought up for a hearing, and were allowed to go free on bail,
pending their trial. They took advantage of the opportunity to
disappear. Now the authorities of Portland are searching high and low
for them."

"Yes," said Dick, "the reason I hurried out of the house there, bringing
you fellows with me, was because I saw one of them starting toward the
door, and believe me, I knew more than to stack up against three of them
all alone. We have made enough enemies in the past few weeks without
getting others on our trail.

"That is something we can discuss later. I suggest now that Phil tell us
what happened on the second floor, as he seems to be the one that had
the real adventure