is shoulder. Seeing he was discovered he broke into a desperate run. He was heading toward

ront of the house came the sound of a po

cried Bob, who was in the lead. "D

k away at a tangent from their course as the man disappeared around t

Bob, and he fo

nd Tom Barnum were laboring along some yards in t

as he grasped the meaning of the boys' maneu

Bob over his shoulder. "We'

called the Gut. Furthermore, the drive approached this place by a winding, circuitous route, while the boys were not far distant from it by the shortcut through the woods which they were followin

of triumph as he heard the roar of the approaching car and realized he had arrived first. The car slowed down as it ente

touring car with the top folded back. There were three men in it, one on the seat beside the driver and the third in the rear. He was the man who had entered the

e landed on the running board beside the rear seat. Steadying himself as the car lurched from the impact of his weight, Bob reache

throttle and the car leaped ahead, and at the same

moment found himself flat on his back in the r

nk, dropped to the road beside him and bent ove

b, are y

the back of his

"But they got

on the top of the bank, and Mr. Temple and

scrambled to his feet. "But, say, I see you captured something

ng from the car he had dragged his victim's coat

" surmised Frank. "I could see him threshing around just as I came up to the to

. "Well, I'd rather have had the fellow. This isn't any

up the garment. "Let's see what's in the pocket

well. And, Bob, did you notice the license number o

Bob. "I was too

of paper. "Return trip ticket to Ransome, New Mexico. And a wallet with a big bunch of bills in it. And here,

e envelope. Mr. Temple noted the seal had been broken, and opening it he pulled out

the paper contained a list of names of "independents" in the oil field, together with other information, which would give the Oct

but you did a good stroke of business that time. Come," he added, "we'll go back to the

red to Mr. Temple, and he asked Frank what was the name

York. Evidently the man came from-why, Mr. Temple, he came here from Ransome,

id Mr. Temple gravely. "Th

. "Say, Bob," he declared, "old Jack isn