se to Paul's ear.

This was important news, and the scout leader was not slow to take
advantage of it. So they found a place close to the rear gate, and
crouched low, waiting. Slowly the minutes passed. The town clock struck
the half hour, though it seemed to some of the watchers that they must
have been on duty for ages.

"That's him coming," said Nuthin at length, in the lowest of voices; "I
know his whistle all right. He's feelin' right merry over givin' us the
ha! ha!"

"'Sh!" warned Paul, just then; and as the whistler drew rapidly closer
the five crouching figures prepared to spring out upon him.

CHAPTER IV

CATCHING A TARTAR

"Now!" exclaimed Paul, suddenly.

At the word a number of dark figures sprang erect, coming out of the
denser shadows alongside the gate in the high fence back of the Kenwood
grounds.

Ward was of course startled. The whistle came to an abrupt termination.
Perhaps he may even have recognized the voice that called out this one
word in such a tone of authority; for while he did not make any outcry
he turned as if to flee.

It was already too late, for Bobolink, as if forseeing some such clever
move on the part of the slippery customer, had so placed himself that he
was able to cut off all retreat.

Then many hands were clutching the garments of the banker's son, and
despite his vigorous struggles he found himself held. While it was far
from light back there, he seemed to be able to divine who his captors
were, judging from the way he immediately broke out in a tirade of
abuse.

"Better keep your hands off me, Paul Morrison," was the way he ranted;
"and you too, Bobolink and Jud! What d'ye mean holding me up like this,
right at our own gate too? I'll tell Chief Billings about it, and
perhaps you'll find yourselves pulled in. Let go of me, I tell you! How
dare you grab me this way?"

It need hardly be said that not one of the boys addressed showed the
least intention of carrying out the wishes of the speaker. In fact, to
tell the truth, each one of the scouts seemed to tighten his grip.

One thing Paul noticed, and this was the fact that Ward did not raise
his voice above an ordinary tone. He was angry, possibly alarmed, too;
but somehow he did not seem to care about shouting so as to arouse his
folks.

From this it was easy for Paul to guess that Ward must have been ordered
to remain indoors on this night; and did not wish his father to know he
had been roaming the