another careful scrutiny of both rails. The group of footprints was
outside the track and midway between the two points in which he seemed
so much interested.

"This is the end of _our_ tracking," he said at length.

"What's the matter?"

"Come here and I'll show you. See that footprint--it's only half a
one--the front half--see? That's the last one of the lot. That's where
he climbed into the car--see?"

Roy stood speechless.

"See? Now come here and I'll show you something. See those little rusty
places on the track? It's fresh rust--see? You can wipe it off with your
finger. There's where the wheels were--see? One, two, three, four--same
on the other side, see? And down there," pointing along the track, "it's
the same way. If it hadn't been raining this week, we'd never known
about a freight car being stalled here, hey? See, those footprints are
just half-way between the rusty spots. There's where the door was. See?
This little front half of a footprint tells the story. He had to climb
to get in--poor kid. He went on a railroad train, after all."

Roy could say nothing. He could only stare as Tom pointed here and there
and fitted things together like a picture puzzle. The car was gone, but
it had left its marks, just as the boy had.

"You put it into my head when you mentioned the train," said Tom.

"Oh, sure; _I_ put it into your head," said Roy, in disgust. "_I'm_ a
wonderful scout--_I_ ought to have a tin medal! It was you brought me
that letter back. It was Pee-wee got the bird down and won a boat for
us--and I've turned him out of it," he added, bitterly.

"No, you----"

"Yes, I have. And it was _you_ that tracked him, and it was _you_
spelled this out and it's _you_--it's just like _you_, too--to turn
around and say I put it into your head. The only thing _I've_ done in
this whole blooming business is try to insult Mary Temple--only--only
you wouldn't let me get away with it," he stammered.

"Roy," interrupted Tom, "listen--just a minute." He had never seen Roy
like this before.

"Come on," said Roy, sharply. "You've done all _you_ could. Come on
back!"

Tom was not much at talking, but seeing his friend in this state seemed
to give him words and he spoke earnestly and with a depth of feeling.

"It's always _you_," said Roy. "It's----"

"Roy," said Tom, "don't--wait a minute--_please_. When we got back to
the boat I said we'd have to find him--don't go on like that,
Roy--please! I thought I