f the company should ride, in order to
transport the baggage, and that the remainder would take to the road as
soon as sunrise next morning.

The manager, knowing that Jet had some money, because of his offer to
pay his own railroad fare, borrowed five dollars of him, with the
promise that it should be repaid with the first money taken at the door
on the next evening, and the amateur detective went to bed feeling
that, perhaps, he could travel around the country more cheaply than by
working for a manager who borrowed his funds.

All hands were called at an early hour on the following morning, and
Jet set out immediately after breakfast with those who were to travel
on "Shank's mare."

It was unfortunate that some of these involuntary pedestrians, while
not having enough to pay their railroad fare, managed to scrape
together sufficient to buy a large bottle of whisky, and when a trifle
more than half the distance had been traversed, several were under the
influence of the fiery liquor.

Jet had many invitations to drink, but he stoutly refused even to taste
of the stuff, and walked on ahead with the other temperate members of
the company.

The dissipated portion of the party danced and sang to the amusement or
disgust of the inhabitants whose houses they passed, and the town was
in sight when a loud shout from the rear caused Jet and his companions
to look back.

Half a dozen of the men had scaled a fence, and were industriously
engaged filling their pockets with fruit, paying no attention to the
damage done the trees as they broke branches or threw heavy clubs up to
bring down the apples or pears.

"Say, this won't do!" Jet shouted as he ran toward them. "You stand a
good chance to be arrested, and then how shall we get out of town?"

"Walk, as we had to this time," some one replied with a laugh, and the
thefts went on with redoubled eagerness.

Jet tried to persuade the fellows to desist, but deaf ears were turned
to all his entreaties, and he was leaning over the fence when two women
and a boy came out to drive the intruders away.

The drunken men paid no attention either to threats or entreaties, but
continued at the work until a sufficient amount of fruit had been
obtained, when they continued the journey.

Immediately after arriving in town Jet had plenty to do in the way of
distributing programmes, and finished the task only to take his place
in the street parade.

The drunkards had sobered off in