As they pushed in there they saw that it was pretty much of a wreck; but as the farmer’s wife had already told Thad they were fully insured, the result would be more of an inconvenience, and the loss of family treasures, than any great amount of pecuniary damage.
The farmer was standing at an old desk that was part bookcase. It had somehow managed to escape the flames that came upon most of the contents of the sitting-room.
“They got my little pile, all right,” he started to say, as the scouts crowded into the damaged and blackened room, now several inches deep with water; “but I’m glad it wasn’t very much. If this had happened three weeks ago I’d have stood to lose several thousand dollars, because I sold a patch of land, and had the cash overnight in this same desk, though I banked it next day.”
Thad was immediately deeply interested. He saw in these significant words of the farmer an explanation of the mystery as to how the fire could have started.
“Do you mean to tell us that you have been robbed, sir?” he asked; and the old man nodded his head.
“I woke up, and thought I heard the low sound of voices downstairs here,” he went on to explain; “so I got out of bed, after waking Nancy, picked up my gun, and came down the stairs. They creak like all get-out, and must ’a’ told the scamps somebody was coming. Just as I got to the door I saw two men by the desk here, that they had forced open; and I guess they’d copped my little roll of bills about that time. Well, I was struck dumb at the sight at first, and then I remembered my gun; but before I could swing it up to my shoulder one of them swept the lighted lamp from the table to the floor.
“The flash that came blinded me, and I forgot all about the robbers in thinking about saving my house. Then Nancy she came down, and we got busy. All at once I remembered you boys in the barn, and Hiram, and I started to yellin’ at the top of my voice, but pitchin’ water all the while. That’s how the fire started, you see; and we’re sure beholdin’ a heap to you boys for helpin’ put it out as smart as we did. It looks tough, for a fact, but sho! it might ’a’ been heaps worse.”
“But the dog—what d’ye reckon they could have done to him?” asked Giraffe.
“It might be they pizened Toby,” replied the farmer; “I wouldn’t put it past that tough pair to do anything. But chances are the dog’s off to the woods huntin’ rabbits. He often runs away like that and stays all night long. If I tie him up he barks enough to set us crazy. I’ll have to get rid of him, and find a better watchdog.”
“Well, things are getting warmer right along, ain’t they?” Step Hen wanted to know. “A fire was bad enough, but when you find out that it was started by thieves, and that they actually robbed the house first, it gets more and more exciting. Now the Silver Fox Patrol has done something along lines like that before; and mebbe we might again, given half a fair chance.”