at Frank added.

"Then, if it was the same men who robbed the bank they must have known
about you boys having a brand new machine. And say, that must mean one
of the robbers was something of a birdman himself; because no greenhorn
would ever think of making his getaway in an aeroplane. Don't you see
that's a pretty good clue, Frank? I'll remember that when I'm getting in
touch with other points, and find out if there's any aviator who's gone
crooked of late. Yes, that's worth knowing, now; and I'm glad you
mentioned it to me."

"What description did Cadger give of the men, Chief?" queried Frank.

"Oh! he said one was tall and thin; and the other short and wiry like,
pretty much like a cat. I rather reckon he'd be the fellow who's been in
the flying business. Seemed to have a stiff left arm too, like he'd met
up with some sort of an accident. That might turn out to be a pointer;
I'll just remember it. It surely was a lucky thing for me I saw you boys
come sailing along and managed to attract your attention. I begin to
feel better already. You gave me so much help on that other occasion, it
just seems as if I had to fall back on you again."

"Better move your horse out of the way, Chief, because there comes a car
at a licketty-split racing speed. Wonder what the fellows in it are
thinking about, to take such chances. Why, hello! look there, Frank,
perhaps you know the one who's at the wheel? Seems to me I've seen him
before, and that his name is Percy Carberry."

"It is Percy," said Frank, "and alongside him who'd you expect to see
but his shadow, Sandy Hollingshead? And they look some excited too, as
though they'd heard about the robbery, and the Carberry family was
threatened with bankruptcy if the missing funds were not recovered right
away. There, he sees us, and is pulling up. I reckon he's looking for
you, Chief."

The car that had been tearing along the pike came to a stop close to
where the head of the Bloomsbury police force sat in his buggy.

Percy Carberry got out, and Andy could not but notice that he was not
displaying his accustomed agility on this fine morning; indeed, he made
a face as though it gave him a stab of pain every time he took a step.

"Hello! Chief Waller!" remarked Percy in his customary patronizing way,
ignoring the presence of the Bird boys completely and purposely, of
course; "I've come out after you, to get your assistance in trying to
find the rascals who broke into my hangar some