"It might be well enough to watch the old fellow, at any rate," said Dyke Barrel, rising and walking twice across the room, peering nervously out of the window in the direction in which old Wiggs had gone.
"Keep quiet, Dyke," said Bernard. "I will shadow the old fellow, and see if he is other than he seems."
Bernard was on the point of leaving the room, when a youth appeared, walking swiftly toward the farm-house from the direction of the station. One glance sufficed to show both men the genial face of the boy Paul Ender.
"So you have Paul with you, Harry?" said the detective with a pleased smile.
"He is my shadow, and I have found him true and brave," answered Harry, at the same time glancing toward Nell, who had told him of the lad's defense of her against the villain Elliston.
"I can testify to his bravery," said the girl. "Paul and I are great friends."
A minute later, young Ender entered the presence of the trio, and deposited a black satchel in the middle of the floor.
"I have committed a theft," said the boy, with a queer look on his face, "and am here to throw myself on the mercy of the court."
"You speak in riddles," said Bernard. "I've been on a bully lay, as the peelers say, and I believe have made a discovery, although it may amount to nothing after all."
"Go on."