Your note gave me a faint clue. Then I traced the
telephone call to the Somm Center exchange so I knew you were somewhere
in this vicinity. Yesterday we received an anonymous tip that an
abandoned sawmill near here would bear investigation. Putting two and
two together I thought perhaps the gangsters might be captured there."

"But you came so quickly."

"By plane to Somm Center," Mr. Nichols smiled. "The police were
waiting for me at the field with automobiles. We lost no time in
bottling up all the roads approaching the old sawmill."

During the hurried conversation, Jimmie Davis had remained quiet. Now
Mr. Nichols bent over him.

"Who is this boy, Penny?"

"It's all right, Dad. Set him free. I'll explain everything."

The detective cut the bonds and Jimmie stepped down from the truck.

"Hold on there," a policeman intervened, taking the boy by the arm.
"You're wanted at headquarters."

Jimmie offered no resistance. Handcuffs were slipped over his wrists.

"Oh, Dad, don't let them do that!" Penny pleaded. "He isn't really a
criminal."

"Who is this boy, Penny?" the detective asked again.

"Jimmie Davis alias Jerry Barrows."

"Davis! Not Jerome Davis' son!"

"Yes, he is."

"Now I begin to understand a few things which weren't clear to me
before. Why our raid failed, for instance."

"I don't believe Jerome Davis is implicated with the gang," Penny
insisted. "Can't you let this boy go free? If it becomes generally
known that he is the son of a policeman it will do so much harm."

"We can't favor him on that account, Penny."

"I realize that, but he's innocent. At least his worst crime was to
drive the truck which contained the stolen tires. He only did that
because Brunner threatened him."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, I am. I overheard Brunner quarreling with him."

Penny then began a rapid account of all that she had witnessed at the
old sawmill. Several of the policemen gathered near to hear the story.
Brunner, handcuffed to an officer, listened intently to her words.

"It's all a lie," he interrupted. "This Davis boy is the son of an old
friend of mine. Because I thought so much of his father I came here
tonight to try to save the boy from his own folly. I pleaded with him
to give up his career of crime--"

"And why were you found in the company of Rap Molberg?" Mr. Nichols
questioned severely.

"I was trying to think of some way----"

"Never mind," the detective cut h