e compounding a
felony?" Carl continued.

"I don't see how that could be wrong," the other boy answered, after
stopping to think it all over. "You have a right to offer a reward and
no questions asked for the return of your own lost or stolen property."

"Then I'd like to try it before we settle on leaving town, Tom."

"It would do no harm, I should think," his chum advised him. "The only
danger I can see would be if Dock took the alarm and went to Mr.
Culpepper, to tell him you were trying to outbid him for the possession
of the paper."

"That would be apt to make him come to time with a jump, wouldn't it?"
said Carl.

"Unless he got it into his head that Dock was only trying to frighten
him into meeting the stiff price at which he held the paper," said Tom.
"He might make out that he didn't care a pin, with the idea of forcing
Dock to come down."

"Yes, because he would believe Dock wouldn't dare put his neck in the
noose by confessing to us he had stolen the paper. Then would you
advise me to try the plan I spoke of?"

"If you get a good chance I should say yes."

That was on a Wednesday afternoon, and Carl went home, his head filled
with a programme he had laid out that concerned the cornering of Dock
Phillips.

On Thursday he learned, when home for lunch, that a new boy had come
for orders from the grocery. Carl was immediately filled with alarm. In
imagination he could see Dock and Mr. Culpepper coming to terms at
last.

After school that afternoon he waited for Tom, to whom the startling
news was disclosed. The stunning effect of it did not seem to affect
Tom's quick acting mind.

"Let's find out just what's happened," he remarked. "Perhaps over at
Joslyn's, next door to the Phillips's, we might pick up a clue."

"Yes, and I know Mrs. Joslyn right well in the bargain," said Carl,
showing interest at once. "I'm sure that if I told her as a secret just
why we wanted to know about Dock she'd tell me if anything had happened
there lately."

To the Joslyn house the two boys went. Mrs. Joslyn was an energetic
little woman, and said to be able to mind her own business.

She listened with growing eagerness to the story, and at its conclusion
said:

"I'm sorry for your mother, Carl, and I don't know that I can help you
any; but there was something strange that happened at the Phillips'
house last night."

CHAPTER VIII

SIGNS OF TROUBLE AHEAD

"Was it about Dock?" asked Carl, eagerly, whil