ask him. He drives the auto for some liveryman in
Thacher, he said."

"Hm. Well, that may be all right, kids, but I've been instructed to look
out for suspicious characters this morning, and I guess you'd both
better step around to the station with me." He smiled. "I don't suppose
the Chief'll keep you very long, but he might like to ask you some
questions. See?"

The boys nodded not over-enthusiastically and accompanied the officer.
The police station was but a half-block distant on a side street and
their captor ushered them up the steps and into a room where a tall,
bushy-whiskered man with much gold on his shoulders sat writing at a
flat-topped desk.

"Chief, here's a couple of youngsters I met on Main Street just now. I
guess they're all right, but I thought maybe you'd like to look
'em over."

The Chief nodded and proceeded to do so. He had a most disconcerting
stare, had the Chief, and the boys began to wonder if they had not,
perhaps, after all performed that burglary!

"Well, boys," he said finally, "where do you belong?"

"Brimfield Academy," replied Amy.

"Running away, are you?"

"No, sir, we're trying to get back. We went to Thacher yesterday with
the football team and started over here in a fellow's auto and it broke
down about--about four miles back and we got lost and slept in a sort of
hut and got here this morning."

"Where was the hut?" asked the official.

"Just off the road between here and Thacher. About four miles, or maybe
five."

"Nearer six," corrected Clint. "We walked four miles, I guess, before we
found that sign-post."

The Chief questioned particularly regarding the automobile and its
driver, finally taking up the telephone and inquiring of the two local
garages if such a car had been brought in for repairs. Both garages
replied that they hadn't seen the car and the Chief looked back at Amy
speculatively.

"He must have gone back and found that nut," said Amy, "and repaired it
himself."

"Maybe," said the Chief. "Who did you say the fellow drove the auto
for?"

"I didn't say. I've forgotten the name. Some liveryman in Thacher."

"And he was coming here to get the hotel proprietor, eh?"

"That's what he said."

"And you didn't see him again?"

"No, sir, not unless--"

"Unless what?"

Amy glanced inquiringly at Clint and Clint nodded.

"Unless he was in the car that stopped at the hut in the night,"
concluded Amy, "and I don't believe he was."

The Chief exc