“Well, we’ll soon see,” declared Bart. “He’ll have to come out, some time or other, and then we can tell. We’ll just wait here a while.”

A little later they were all startled to see the man, about whom there seemed to be such a mystery, come hurriedly from the store.

“There he is!” exclaimed Fenn.

“It’s him, all right,” assented Bart, in low tones. “Now what shall we do; follow him?”

The man turned south on the main street, and began walking rapidly away. At that instant Fenn caught sight of a package in his hand. It was a paper bundle, but, as the stout lad looked, he saw projecting from it the long, snake-like neck of a mud turtle.

“He’s got a turtle!” cried Fenn, excitedly. “Let’s chase after him! We must solve this mystery now or never!”


CHAPTER XXVIII

THE PURSUIT