“No, and I think he tells the truth,” added the lineman, in a low voice. “I’m sorry, but you boys will have to keep on with your search.”
It needed but a glance at the simple face of the turtle collector to show that he was not a thief, even if he was a decidedly peculiar individual.
“Well,” remarked Bart, after a pause, “I guess all Fenn and I can do is to go back to the hotel, and wait for Ned and Frank to show up.” The two turned to leave the turtle collector’s house. William Lang was busy inspecting his queer pets, and seemed to pay no further attention to his visitors.
“William was always a little queer,” remarked the lineman, as he accompanied the boys outside. “Harmless, but odd. Just daffy on the mud turtle question. I don’t wonder he gave you lots to think about, or that you didn’t quite know how to take him. He is all right except on turtles. He’d walk fifty miles to get a new one. But he’s well off, and can afford to indulge in his fancy.”
As Bart and Fenn turned into the street they saw, coming toward them, Ned and Frank. Ned was frantically waving a paper in the air.
“How’d you find your way here?” called Bart.
“People in the crowd told us you’d come here,” replied Frank. “But have you heard the good news?”
“What good news?”
“The diamond bracelet wasn’t stolen at all!” burst out Ned. “We just got telegrams from home. They were at the hotel waiting for us. We went there after missing you in the crowd, when something happened on the top of the pole. We tried to follow that mysterious man, but we missed him. There are also telegrams for you two fellows. I thought you had them, or——”
“For gracious sake tell us the good news! What about the diamond bracelet?” yelled Bart.