le.

"You stay here," whispered Fred to Teddy, "and keep your eye on them.
I'll take the bike and skip down to the main part of the town and get a
constable."

"I'll be back in a minute, Ted," he said aloud, as he sauntered from the
room.

He climbed into the saddle and in three minutes was in the heart of the
town. A hurried inquiry led him to the office of the constable. He found
him at his ease, swapping stories with three or four of his cronies.

But the indifference with which he greeted Fred's entrance gave place to
eager interest as Fred told him of the theft at Oldtown and of the
reward that had been offered.

"Sure, I'll go with you, Son," he said, rising to his feet. "And two or
three of you fellows had better come along," he added to his friends.
"Those fellows may put up a fight when they're tackled."

A moment more and an automobile carrying four men was speeding to the
roadhouse, while Fred rode alongside.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that the other automobile was
still standing in front. The birds had not yet flown.

Two of the constable's party stayed outside to intercept the men if they
should attempt to escape, while he himself, with another, entered the
room. He went straight up to the pair, who looked at him angrily.

"I want you," he said, at the same time exhibiting his badge.

As though moved by the same spring, the men jumped to their feet and
rushed for the door. The constable collared the short one, but the tall
man had nearly reached the door when Fred tripped him, and he went down
with a crash. Before he could rise the rest were on him and in a moment
both men were handcuffed.

They bundled them into the automobile and took them to the constable's
office. Fred and Teddy accompanied them on the motorcycle, their hearts
beating high with exultation.

A careful search of their pockets brought to light several pawntickets.
The boys scanned them eagerly.

"Here it is!" cried Fred, as he noted the date on one of them. "It's for
a watch, and it's dated three days after the robbery at Oldtown. And
here's the number of the watch on it."

He drew from his vest pocket a slip of paper and compared the number.

"Sure as guns!" he exclaimed delightedly. "Here's the number, 61,284.
The same one that's on the pawn ticket."

"Won't Uncle Aaron be tickled to death?" chortled Teddy. "Glory,
hallelujah!"

"What are these, I wonder," asked the constable as he looked over a
package