as a very important person.

Jet was not disturbed because of the fact that he had been arrested on
a charge of passing counterfeit money; already he had a shrewd
suspicion as to the value of his discoveries, and felt quite certain he
would receive a warm and friendly reception from the inspector.

CHAPTER IX

THE DETECTIVE

The only thing which troubled Jet as he sat alone in the narrow cell
was the possibility that the inspector might not get his message in
time to bag the suspected men before they left the house in the woods,
for now that he had made his escape, it was reasonable to suppose they
would be alarmed.

On this score, however, he need have had little fear. Before sunset a
gentleman was ushered into his cell and the door locked behind him.

"You wanted to see the inspector," the stranger began, as he seated
himself on the narrow bench which served as a bed.

"Well, s'posin' I did?" Jet asked, thinking this man was some one
attached to the station.

"He has sent me to know where you have been."

"Did you come from New York?"

"Yes, on the last train."

"Why didn't the inspector come?"

"He never leaves the city; there are plenty of officers at headquarters
to do such work. Now, what do you know?"

"More'n I'll tell to anybody but him."

"In that case I shall have to take you back to the city."

"But then it will be too late; them fellers are bound to skip when they
find out I've got away."

"What fellows?"

Jet looked up suspiciously.

"I don't want to say a word to anybody but the inspector."

"I told you he sent me to do the business. You can talk as freely as
to him."

"Who are you?"

"Detective Harvey."

"From New York?"

"See here, my boy, I don't blame you for having doubts, and to set them
at rest I'll prove that what I say is true," and the detective pounded
on the bars of the cell door until the turnkey appeared.

"I wish you would ask the sergeant to step this way a moment."

That officer obeyed the summons at once, and when he stood at the door
the detective said to him:

"Will you kindly tell this boy who I am? He is afraid I am sailing
under false colors."

"You are Detective Harvey, sent by the inspector at New York in answer
to a telegram I wired this morning. To give him perfect confidence in
you I will say further that at present he is confined for passing
counterfeit money, but if you should ask to have him released I
guarantee that the charg