Well, now,
that looks like a find worth while. A paper
with a marked account of the bank robbery,
and in the possession of these innocent boys.
How would you account for such a thing, my
fine fellow?"

"Nothing easier, Captain," replied Jack,
readily. "You never heard that we belong in
that little town where the paper is published.
I've been in that bank more than a few times
when over in Waverly on business."

"Sure you have; ain't that just what we're
saying?" declared the man named Grogan.

"Keep still, Grogan, and let me do the talking.
Go on, young fellow; tell how the paper
chances to come in your possession, and who
marked it?" the one in authority continued.

"I suppose my father marked that with a
blue pencil, because he knew all of us would be
deeply interested. Besides, when we read the
description of the mysterious motor boat we
recognized that it was a ringer for my own
little _Tramp_ here."

Grogan was apparently inclined to be
incredulous. While he dared not break in again
with any remark of his own, he took occasion
to sniff as loudly as he could, and in this
manner show his utter disbelief in the story given
out by the skipper of the craft they had boarded.

"Then the paper came by mail?" continued
the captain, as he examined it again.

"Surely," replied Jack. "One of my companions
got it at Quincy, where others received
letters; but this was the only thing for me.
You can see the creases plain enough, where it
was folded several times."

"Yes," the other went on, cautiously; "it
has that appearance, though any smart chap
could do the same thing if he had his wits
about him. But I suppose you boys can easily
prove you are what you claim?"

"Sure we kin!" spoke up Jimmie just then.
"Give me the chanct, and I'll show ye lots of
things to prove I niver had but the one name,
and that was Jimmie Brannagan."

"There's another thing I just thought of,
Captain," Jack broke in with.

"Well, let's have it then. For unless you
satisfy me that you're the parties you say I
shall consider it my duty to take this boat back
with me, and both of you boys in the bargain."

"Let me have the paper, please," said Jack.
"Officer Grogan didn't look inside, or he might
have seen another article, marked with a blue
pencil too."

"Look out, Cap," warned the suspicious
one; "mebbe he just wants to tear it into
finders [Transcriber's note: flinders?],
and destroy incriminating evidence."