troyed."

"Just listen to that!" gasped Tom. "Oh, the rascals!"

"And Uncle Randolph's prize stock chickens!" murmured Sam. "That must
have made his heart ache!"

"I'll wager Aunt Martha was scared to death," added Tom. And Dick read
on:

"Of course there was great excitement, and four of us, the
detective, Ness, Pop, and myself, went after the rascals,
leaving your Uncle Randolph to look after your aunt and the
cook, both of whom were very much frightened. We hunted
around until daylight, but without success. Then we went to
the old mill in the auto, but the place was deserted. After
that I notified the local authorities, and I have hired ten
watchmen to guard the farm and every building on it. I have
also sent for two more detectives, and I am hoping that,
sooner or later, they will be able to trace the scoundrels
and run them down."

"Does he say how he is feeling?" questioned Sam, as his brother paused
in the reading of the letter.

"Yes, he says he is about the same, but that Uncle Randolph is very much
upset over the loss of his chickens and wants to know if they hadn't
better pay the money demanded."

"Oh, I hope they don't pay a cent!" cried Tom.

"So do I," added Sam. "But I don't want to see them blown up either," he
continued, seriously.

"None of us want that," said Dick. "But I'd not give them a cent--I'd be
blown up a dozen times before I'd do it!" he continued, firmly.

"Do they want us home?" asked Tom.

"No, dad says it will do no good for us to come home. He says he will
write or telegraph if anything new develops. He thinks, with the extra
watchmen on guard, and the detectives at work, Crabtree and Sobber will
get scared and leave them alone."

"I hope they do," said Sam. He heaved a deep sigh. "Gracious! it seems
to me that no sooner are we out of one trouble than we get into
another!"

"That is true."

"It's too bad--to have this piled on poor dad when he's so worried about
that business affair."

"Well, you know the old saying, 'troubles never come singly,'" answered
the older brother.

After that the three boys watched the mails anxiously for over a week.
Then came another letter from their father, in which he stated that
nothing new had developed. Then came another wait--until the day after
that set by Crabtree and Sobber for the delivery of the fifty thousand
dollars,--when Dick got a telegram, as follows:

"All