was dark and in disorder. The place was dimly illuminated from the high-lights on Broadway, and the noises of

the electrics, half afraid of what they might reveal. Why was the room so dark and silent? The lights had been burning when he lo

usual place was against the wall, but it had been wheeled about so that it fronted the windows. The door was open, and, although no

which were now open. One of the drawers lay on its side on the floor, and was empty. The articles on the desk's top gave evidence

k now rested on the rug while its polished castors stuck up in the air. At firs

and summon assistance, when a slight sound coming from the north room attracted his attention.

d. The boy recalled the fact that the rooms had been lighted from within when he stood on the pavement, and wondered if it would not be

with some blunt instrument, and then moved toward the telephone in the outer room. As he did so the corridor door was opened and a

n the face of the other stopped him. The intruder glanced keenly about the two rooms which lay under his gaze and finally rested on th

't got good sense, doin' a think like that with the shades up, the

he would be accused of the crime, and that circumstances would be against him. If Mr. Cameron should never recover

ame would be mentioned with horror. While these thoughts were passing through the dazed mind of the boy, there came, also,

repeated the intruder. "What ha

as his excitement would permit of. "You think

hand over the littered rooms, "and the man on t

ently. "It looks bad for me, but I didn't do it. I came here to acco

tted over the other's fa

on. "I had just switched on the lights when I heard a noise in here a

judge," the ot

e, and a jury, and a crowded court room, and columns in the newspapers. He had read of su

ed, stepping forward as Fremont lifted his arm. "Th

scroll with one hand. "Can you tell me," he c

red," was

pared f

d to face danger in

e name of y

ear. I've heard a lot about the boys

anything th

a t

h the other hastened to take, "you've got to help m

ve all the fine things you want-as the members of that patrol do

emont. Wha

scrubs here nights. She'll be docking me if I don't get busy," he added, with a mischievous twin

of the stairs?" asked Fremont, illogically. "Why did you j

y replied. "I wish now that I hadn't come in

the police?"

hat I've

d Fremont. "You've got to listen to me. You've got to list

manded the boy. "Boy Scouts don't protect robbers, or murderers. You kno

t. They will lock me up in the Tombs and I'll have no show at all. Mrs. Cameron will believe that I di

w nothing about it when the police do come. I can't do that for you, even if you do belong to the

to help others," Fremon

his arms out in a gesture of despair. "I'

and ask him, or the scoutmaster. One of them ou

e I'm gone," replied Jimmie, with

ock me in. I couldn't get away if I wanted to, and I give you my honor t

tion of his patrol leader's love for mysterio

ader, and the bulliest boy in New York. He'll know what to do. I'll bet he'

ring the key, his eyes blinking rapi

slowly, reluctantly, "I'll have to bring the poli

use of that? They'd find me and bring me back. Go on out and bring in anyone you want to. I gues

immie. "Were they planning

and pointed t

spense. You can let me know, if you want to, whet

a trip tha

staircase. Fremont had never in all his life had a key turned on him before. He threw himself into a cha

. Fremont brought water and used it freely, but its application did not produce any immediate e

od. He understood now that his every hope for the future centered in the little lad who was hurrying through the night in quest of Ned Nestor, his patrol leader. If these boys of the Wolf Patrol should decide against him, a

emy, in payment of a grudge, or had robbery been the motive? Surely not the latter, for the injured man's valuable watch and chain, his diamonds, were i

nner in which the desk and safe had been ransacked showed that a thorough search for something had been made. Directly the boy h

mont! He did

in his mind that it was Fremont who had attacked him. At least the words he was repeating over and over again would leave no doubt in the minds of the officer

y. Why should he be asking admission? Did he suspect? But the fellow went away presently, threatening

words spoken. It seemed, however, that one of the voices was

mind of the waitin

rol leader, or had he brou

with this one, that depended upon the m

Grande, the sweet Spring in the South, or would it be the